An official has announced a significant decrease in telecom fraud cases in one district of Beijing. According to the official, by the end of last year, the number of telecom fraud cases and the financial losses incurred by people in the Chinese capital's Huairou district had decreased by 77 percent and 72 percent, respectively, compared to 2023.

Cai Xinyu, head of the district's public security department, told Friday's news conference that the rate of decline was the most impressive in Beijing for two years running.

Cai also disclosed that in the first quarter of 2026, telecom fraud cases in the district dropped by 56 percent year-on-year, while financial losses for residents decreased by 68 percent year-on-year. "This demonstrates our ongoing success in combating fraud," he added.

According to Cai,  last year authorities have apprehended 189 individuals involved in fraud-related crimes and dismantled 17 criminal groups providing cash withdrawal and money transportation services to overseas fraud operations.

Efforts to recover stolen assets and mitigate losses have been continuously enhanced, resulting in over 14 million yuan ($2.1 million) of defrauded funds being returned to the public, thereby maximizing the protection of people's property rights, he added.

Cai said police in the district have prioritized the anti-fraud initiative, enlisting volunteers from office buildings, residential areas, and express delivery stations to join the fight against crime.

"We've also established over 4,800 online groups to regularly share telecom fraud risks, enhancing members' legal awareness and improving their ability to identify fraudulent information," he explained.

He added that the district's police have provided specialized legal education for groups frequently targeted by scammers, such as the elderly, college students, parents of children studying abroad, and financial staff in enterprises.

Xu Zhifang, head of Huairou's education bureau, said police officers have been invited to schools to teach anti-fraud knowledge by analyzing real cases of impersonating judicial staff and using game top-ups to defraud children, helping students improve their prevention skills.

Cai also mentioned the establishment of an early warning response system by local police.

"Once we identify potential fraud, we use methods like text messages, phone calls, and face-to-face interactions to prevent residents from transferring money, racing against time with fraudsters," he said.

From the start of 2025 to March this year, they have successfully intervened over 60,000 times, preventing economic losses exceeding 21 million yuan, he added.