100 persons linked to cross-border scams wanted in China, S$36,700 reward for leads per head

China has issued a wanted notice for over 100 fugitives linked to cross-border fraud rings.

This is accompanied by an offer of rewards of 200,000 yuan (S$36,700) for anyone who offers effective leads per head.

The notice, along with headshots of the wanted fugitives, was put out on Dec. 9 and shared on the WeChat page of China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

Fugitives continued with scams despite crackdown

In the notice, the ministry pointed out that those wanted are key figures in cross-border scam syndicates.

They include Wu Qiping, Wu Qingzheng, Fu Xiaobin, and Ou Changhua, who are linked to what the MPS described as the "four families" of crime based in north Myanmar.

The ministry said that over the years, the fugitives have continuously targeted Chinese citizens through telecommunication scams, and have enjoyed the protection of "foreign forces".

Their activities have led to "enormous losses" and have been "egregious in nature", the ministry said.

"The wanted fugitives have continued with their illicit activities despite operations by the Ministry of Pubic Security to combat such crimes, particularly in northern Myanmar," it continued.

The ministry urged the named fugitives to recognise the gravity of the situation and turn themselves in before it's too late, suggesting that those who do may be granted leniency.

Anyone who retaliates will be severely dealt with: China's MPS

China's MPS appealed to the public for any information that might lead to arrests, assuring the safety of informants.

In wanted posters shared on WeChat, the ministry specified that anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest will be rewarded with 200,000 yuan (S$36,700) per arrest.

"Anyone who retaliates against informants will be severely dealt with," China's MPS warned.

The posters also carried with them headshots of those wanted.

Many of them are captioned with an address and identity number.

Over 6,600 Chinese nationals arrested and repatriated so far

In a Dec. 8 post on WeChat, the ministry announced that 1,178 Chinese nationals suspected of being involved in cross-border scams have been arrested and repatriated back to China from Myanmar.

Since China, Thailand and Myanmar launched joint operations to crackdown on scam syndicates in February, over 6,600 Chinese nationals have been arrested and repatriated, the ministry pointed out in a video.

The video also featured lines of people in handcuffs as they were escorted by security personnel through airport corridors and off a plane.

Top image via Ministry of Public Security / WeChat