Indonesia arrested at least 88 Chinese nationals over their alleged involvement in cross-border online romance scams, said the police after receiving a tip from the Chinese security ministry.&nbsp;

As per the police, the suspects, including five women, were part of a telephone scam and online love fraud cartel.

Riau Islands police spokesperson Zahwani Pandra Arsyad said that the suspects were operating from a shophouse, a building with mixed commercial and residential use, located in an industrial park.&nbsp;

Primarily, they were targeting fellow Chinese nationals, who as per the reports, were called over the internet and tricked into transferring money. A probe into the matter revealed that the gang had been carrying out such operations since early this year, trapping dozens of victims in China. It is not yet clear as to how much money they have accumulated since then.

“We are still investigating this case, including whether there are any Indonesians among the victims,” Arsyad said, adding that none of the suspects can speak or write the Indonesian language. “If there are none, we would deport all of them immediately.”

Arsyad said that the members of the cartel had come from China to Indonesia for three months at a time since January this year, and were committing crimes from Indonesia as China had clamped down on their networks.

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He then added that the Indonesian police are working closely with immigration officials and China’s Ministry of Public Security in dealing with the suspects.

In the year 2019, the US Federal Trade Commission announced that romance-related fraudulent activities were the ones behind generating more losses than any other consumer scams reported to the agency. In a statement, it had said that in such scams criminals usually trap victims online, via either a dating site or social media.

In a report released on Wednesday (August 30), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the criminal gangs have compelled dozens of people in Southeast Asia into participating in illicit online scams, including false romantic ploys, bogus investment pitches and illegal gambling schemes.

It cited “credible sources” that at least 120,000 people in strife-torn Myanmar and roughly 100,000 in Cambodia “may be held in situations where they are forced to carry out online scams.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Indonesia arrested at least 88 Chinese nationals over their alleged involvement in cross-border online romance scams, said the police after receiving a tip from the Chinese security ministry.

Indonesia arrested at least 88 Chinese nationals over their alleged involvement in cross-border online romance scams, said the police after receiving a tip from the Chinese security ministry. As per the police, the suspects, including five women, were part of a telephone scam and online love fraud cartel. Riau Islands police spokesperson Zahwani Pandra Arsyad said that the suspects were operating from a shophouse, a building with mixed commercial and residential use, located in an industrial park. Primarily, they were targeting fellow Chinese nationals, who as per the reports, were called over the internet and tricked into transferring money. A probe into the matter revealed that the gang had been carrying out such operations since early this year, trapping dozens of victims in China. It is not yet clear as to how much money they have accumulated since then. “We are still investigating this case, including whether there are any Indonesians among the victims,” Arsyad said, adding that none of the suspects can speak or write the Indonesian language. “If there are none, we would deport all of them immediately.” Arsyad said that the members of the cartel had come from China to Indonesia for three months at a time since January this year, and were committing crimes from Indonesia as China had clamped down on their networks. Also read: US President Joe Biden announces $ 95 million for Hawaii’s electric grid after Maui wildfires He then added that the Indonesian police are working closely with immigration officials and China’s Ministry of Public Security in dealing with the suspects. In the year 2019, the US Federal Trade Commission announced that romance-related fraudulent activities were the ones behind generating more losses than any other consumer scams reported to the agency. In a statement, it had said that in such scams criminals usually trap victims online, via either a dating site or social media. In a report released on Wednesday (August 30), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the criminal gangs have compelled dozens of people in Southeast Asia into participating in illicit online scams, including false romantic ploys, bogus investment pitches and illegal gambling schemes. It cited “credible sources” that at least 120,000 people in strife-torn Myanmar and roughly 100,000 in Cambodia “may be held in situations where they are forced to carry out online scams.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indonesia arrests 88 Chinese nationals over romance-related scams

The Taliban arrested five men, which included two Chinese nationals, over the allegations of smuggling around 1,000 metric tonnes of lithium-bearing rocks out of Afghanistan, reported local media.&nbsp;According to reports, the Chinese nationals were attempting to smuggle the lithium rocks from Afghanistan to China through Pakistan with the help of their Afghan allies.&nbsp;

The men were arrested and the 'precious' stones were confiscated in Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan's border city, according to Reporterly.&nbsp;

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As per the local sources, around 30 per cent of lithium was present in rocks and the smugglers had extracted them “secretly” from Nuristan and Kunar, two of various Afghan provinces that lie along the border shared with Pakistan.&nbsp;

According to Reporterly, the Chinese nationals had planned along with their Afghan collaborators to illegally transport the lithium rocks to China, stated the Taliban intelligence officials.

Since December 12, China and Afghanistan's relationship has become dicey when a hotel was targeted in a bomb and gun attack, in which five Chinese nationals were injured.&nbsp;

After the attack, Beijing adopted a tepid approach as China issued an advisory asking citizens to leave Afghanistan.&nbsp;

In November last year, Afghanistan was in talks with China over the rekindling of the ancient Silk Road for trade so as to help the country's dwindling economy.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: 1 year of Taliban rule in Afghanistan

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When the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, China stated that it is willing to extend friendly co-operation to the landlocked country.&nbsp;

The Chinese foreign ministry also expressed its intention to play a constructive role in Afghanistan. China had also emerged as the Taliban regime's trusted allies like Russia, Iran and Pakistan, stated the Al Arabia Post.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Taliban arrested five men, which included two Chinese nationals, over the allegations of smuggling around 1,000 metric tonnes of lithium-bearing rocks out of Afghanistan, reported local media.

The Taliban arrested five men, which included two Chinese nationals, over the allegations of smuggling around 1,000 metric tonnes of lithium-bearing rocks out of Afghanistan, reported local media. According to reports, the Chinese nationals were attempting to smuggle the lithium rocks from Afghanistan to China through Pakistan with the help of their Afghan allies. The men were arrested and the 'precious' stones were confiscated in Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan's border city, according to Reporterly. ALSO READ | Taliban to draw guidelines on women's aid work in Afghanistan says UN As per the local sources, around 30 per cent of lithium was present in rocks and the smugglers had extracted them “secretly” from Nuristan and Kunar, two of various Afghan provinces that lie along the border shared with Pakistan. According to Reporterly, the Chinese nationals had planned along with their Afghan collaborators to illegally transport the lithium rocks to China, stated the Taliban intelligence officials. Since December 12, China and Afghanistan's relationship has become dicey when a hotel was targeted in a bomb and gun attack, in which five Chinese nationals were injured. After the attack, Beijing adopted a tepid approach as China issued an advisory asking citizens to leave Afghanistan. In November last year, Afghanistan was in talks with China over the rekindling of the ancient Silk Road for trade so as to help the country's dwindling economy. WATCH | Gravitas: 1 year of Taliban rule in Afghanistan When the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, China stated that it is willing to extend friendly co-operation to the landlocked country. The Chinese foreign ministry also expressed its intention to play a constructive role in Afghanistan. China had also emerged as the Taliban regime's trusted allies like Russia, Iran and Pakistan, stated the Al Arabia Post. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Two Chinese nationals arrested by Taliban for bid to smuggle 1,000MT of lithium rocks

Pakistani authorities have arrested 12 suspected members of prostitution ring taking young Pakistani women to China, part of a growing human trafficking problem often based on fake marriages, officials said on Monday.

Pakistan busts human-trafficking racket, eight Chinese nationals arrested