Lechang Court Hands Jail Terms for Cross-Border Crypto Investment Fraud

A Shaoguan court in Guangdong sentenced criminals to prison and fines for luring a foreign victim into a fake crypto investment, affirming that fraud targeting foreigners remains punishable under Chinese law.

Summary

On November 2, a court in Lechang, Shaoguan city, Guangdong province, sentenced several defendants to six to eight months in prison and issued fines for running a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme that targeted a foreign victim. The scam resulted in losses of RMB 4,619.9, which were subsequently repaid in full by the perpetrators’ relatives. The judge stressed that committing fraud against foreign nationals carries the same legal consequences under Chinese law as domestic crimes.

Terms & Concepts
  • Cryptocurrency: A digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security and operates independently of a central bank.
  • Cross-border scams: Fraud schemes that target victims across national boundaries, often involving international transactions or communications.