A nationwide telecom fraud scheme lured victims to mail smartphones for ‘high-value recycling’, then devalued devices using fabricated defects. Over 1,000 people were defrauded; 12 suspects are detained.

Social Context

Such scams violate the Anti-Fraud Law (2022) and require e-commerce platforms to verify recyclers’ business licenses. The State Post Bureau now mandates sender ID verification for high-value electronics shipments to curb this modus operandi.

Safety Tip

Use only certified recyclers listed on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s official Green Recycling Platform, and retain shipment tracking until payment clears.