A judicial guideline on telecom and online fraud, released on December 20 by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security, stipulates that telecom and online swindlers should be given heavier penalties under 10 circumstances, including causing the death of a victim, cheating the disabled or the elderly, or committing fraud by pretending to be legal officials.

From January to November, China uncovered 93,000 cases of telecom and online fraud, catching 52,000 offenders; both figures had doubled year-on-year.

When judicial bodies find it difficult to establish how much money has been swindled, they can punish fraudsters for sending more than 500 spam text messages or making more than 500 prank calls.

Members of a fraud gang who surrender themselves, provide information to judicial bodies and hand over illicit money of their own accord may be given a more lenient punishment.