Online fraud is rampant, so the new law's content must be known in advance.
Compiled from The Paper
On December 1, 2022, the Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law (hereinafter referred to as the "Anti-Fraud Law") officially came into effect, further strengthening the fight against telecom fraud. This marks China's first specialized legislation targeting telecom and online fraud. Behind this dedicated legislation lies a grim reality.
Case review
"In the first few days after discovering it, I couldn't sleep all night, my heart felt clenched, I couldn't eat, and I dry-heaved," wrote a netizen who was scammed out of 300,000 yuan in a romance scam on a social platform.
Pig-butchering scams are a prevalent form of telecom fraud, where "butchers" lure victims into investing, gambling, or borrowing money through online dating and other means. Once the victim invests emotions and money, the "butchers" immediately delete their information—this is the "slaughter" moment.
Another netizen who fell victim to a pig-butchering scam later recalled that the experience changed her by making her "realize there is no free lunch in this world."
These cases are just the tip of the iceberg of telecom fraud. In 2020 alone, telecom fraud caused property losses of 35.37 billion yuan in China.
The Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law of the People's Republic of China
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[1] The author's perspective
As time evolves and technology advances, telecom fraud has taken on new forms. In terms of methods, new tricks like virtual currency trading and predatory loans have emerged; in terms of content, new gimmicks such as mask investments and anti-epidemic miracle drugs have appeared. But no matter how sophisticated the scammers' techniques, they all boil down to one goal: swindling victims' money. This reminds the public not to believe in windfalls like high returns or insider information, and to protect themselves—from personal privacy to physical safety—by not revealing too much online, lest they be exploited by malicious individuals.
This time, the official implementation of the Anti-Telecommunications and Online Fraud Law provides more comprehensive legal safeguards for preventing, curbing, and punishing telecommunications and online fraud. It not only stipulates the protection of citizens' personal information but also emphasizes the issue of "two cards," and further specifies the primary responsibilities of internet service providers. Thus, the new law covers a wide range of areas, closely related to both personal daily life and business operations. The author hereby calls on everyone to actively study the Anti-Telecommunications and Online Fraud Law, enhance personal and corporate awareness of fraud prevention, and effectively protect their legitimate property.
