AN online anti-fraud alliance consisting of 19 influential high-tech companies in Shenzhen has assisted local police in solving nearly 100 cases of online fraud since its establishment just two months ago, Chinese-language media reported yesterday.

The alliance also helped track three transnational and trans-provincial fraudulent gangs and disrupt their operations, intercept money of around 3.38 million yuan (US$520,000), and block over 300 websites suspected of being involved in the scams, figures from the alliance showed.

The figures were announced by Li Ping, the head of the city’s criminal investigation department (CID), as part of a public campaign that aimed at educating the public against online scams held at Shenzhen Bay Park on Friday.

The campaign was just one of the several activities organized by the CID for enhancing fraud prevention awareness, supported by the assistance of several other government departments. Hundreds of representatives from member companies of the alliance and 200 residents took part in the campaign.

During his speech, Li introduced how the alliance came into being in July. Since March, the Shenzhen CID has paid visits to 19 high-tech companies in Shenzhen, including SF Express, DJI, Mobike, ofo, Didi Chuxing, Tencent, Alibaba Group and others, in an effort to build a team that would collaborate with the department to crack down on online fraud.

Though more measures are being taken to tackle fraud, online scams remain one of the biggest threats to the residents’ asset security, Li said. Establishing such an alliance is an essential need for the city, he added.

(Zhang Qian)