China freezes social media accounts in anti-fraud move emanating from northern Myanmar

17 October 2019
China freezes social media accounts in anti-fraud move emanating from northern Myanmar
Customers check social media sites from their mobile phone. Photo: AFP

China has frozen a number of social media accounts suspected of engaging in fraud along its border with Myanmar as part of a clampdown on telecom fraud believed to be originating in northern parts of the country, Caixin reported.

Some users of popular programs like QQ, WeChat, and Alipay found their accounts suddenly became inaccessible on Monday, according to domestic Chinese media reports.

The Caixin report said that on Tuesday, an affiliate of the criminal investigation department of China’s Ministry of Public Security published a notice on its official Weibo account saying the shutdowns were in response to “rampant” telecom fraud emanating from northern Myanmar that “seriously violated the people’s property security.”