26 suspects on trial for major transnational telecom fraud

Beijing's 1st intermediate court is hearing a case connected to a trans-national telecom fraud involving over two-dozen suspects from the mainland on Sep 16th, 2014. A total of 26 suspects are accused of cheating mainland citizens out of over 5 million yuan. [Photo: The Beijing News]

A court in Beijing is hearing a case connected to a trans-national telecom fraud involving over two-dozen suspects from the mainland.

A total of 26 suspects are accused of cheating mainland citizens out of over 5 million yuan.

The group is accused of using an elaborate scam to bilk people out of money through the internet and phone calls for a couple of months early last year.

Authorities say the group would pose as Chinese electricity authorities to begin the scam, phoning victims and telling them they had an overdue electric bill.

Xiao Sudan is accused of being part of the scam.

"We would introduce ourselves as customer service for an electric company, and ask how we can help. After they tell us they have an overdue electricity bill, we would ask them to provide their ID numbers in order to get access to their personal details."

Malaysian police eventually busted the network, arresting a total of 86 people, including people from Taiwan and Malyasia.