Beijing police to launch anti-fraud Internet site

Beijing public security bureau Thursday announced it would cooperate with Qihoo 360 to establish the first online platform to fight against Internet fraud at a meeting in Beijing.

The anti-fraud website, fanzhapian.360.cn will enable Net users to report websites they suspect of being fraudulent. Qihoo 360 develops anti-virus software and Internet security products.

"After Net users submit any complaints, we'll identify whether or not the complaints are true. If so, we'll notify people that 'the website has dubious content and Net users should be alert,'" Ye Manqing, director of the office of Internet safety of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, told the Global Times.

Online fraud is widespread in China, which includes setting up malicious fishing websites or sending fake promotion advertisements.

"By intercepting scam websites and Trojan viruses closely and repeatedly, we've forced scamming groups to invest more money and energy into updating viruses. Our persistent interception has pushed up the cost of committing crimes, which serves as a deterrence for the swindlers," said Qi Xiangdong, president of Qihoo 360.

China has vowed to strengthen Internet supervision, including a crackdown on online porn.

Zhou Huilin, deputy director of the National Office against Pornographic and Illegal Publications, said at the Thursday press conference that there are no Chinese mainland-based servers for porn websites. Many overseas servers provide specific services targeting Chinese Net users.

"Some websites put sexual advertisements online through pop-up windows, and this has become one of our main focuses," Zhou said.

All online texts, pictures, videos and advertisements with pornographic content will be deleted, according to the circular released on Sunday.