Police in Chengdu’s Chenghua district cracked a major telecom scam ring recently, busting four operations and seizing over a hundred "貓池" (SIM pool) devices used to receive SMS verification codes, along with more than 30,000 mobile numbers.
The syndicate operated with a clear division of labor. Leaders provided technical training on setting up the hardware, middle operators monitored the machines to batch-receive verification codes, and lower-level recruits were tasked with registering real-name mobile numbers.
In short, they used this gear to churn out massive batches of online accounts and flipped them to overseas scam syndicates, who used the profiles to blast out scam messages and drive traffic to fraudulent sites. Chengdu police picked up the trail this May and spent June and July tracking suspects across Ya'an, Henan, and Chongqing, rounding up card procurers, traffickers, and equipment operators alike.
According to local police, criminal coercive measures have been taken against 44 suspects for aiding information network criminal activities, while another 78 people involved in reselling SIM cards face administrative penalties. It is a solid reminder for folks back home and across the region: never lend out or sell your real-name registered SIM cards for a quick buck, or you might find yourself in serious trouble.
