Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security: Online fraud targets minors, and illicit funds flow overseas via virtual currencies.

The Public Security Ministry’s Criminal Investigation Bureau published an article titled “Beware of Online Fraud Targeting Minors” on its official WeChat account, exposing a new type of online fraud characterized by “gaming-based traffic diversion + impersonation of public security, procuratorial, and judicial organs + virtual currency money laundering.” Fraudsters lure minors into adding them as friends via advertisements posted on gaming and social media platforms, then use intimidation and other tactics to obtain funds from the minors’ parents’ accounts. The illicit proceeds are split and withdrawn through black-market and gray-market platforms before being used to purchase virtual currencies. These virtual currencies face no geographical restrictions and can silently flow back to overseas fraud dens, achieving “physical isolation” for cross-border fund transfers. The Public Security Ministry’s Criminal Investigation Bureau warns: Public security, procuratorial, and judicial organs never conduct investigations online, never threaten to deduct funds, and never request passwords or verification codes.