Chinese Text Scams Steal Over $1 Billion

[umair]

Chinese criminal networks have reportedly stolen more than $1 billion by targeting Americans with massive text-message scams. These operations use “SIM farms,” large setups with hundreds of phones and automated tools that send out fake messages about unpaid tolls, postal fees, or government fines. When victims click the links, they are led to phishing sites designed to steal credit-card details, passwords, and other sensitive information.

Once personal data is captured, scammers use it to make fraudulent purchases or launder money through digital wallets and gig workers in the United States. Some are even paid to buy gift cards and resell them overseas, making the scheme difficult to trace. Authorities say that some networks send more than 300,000 scam messages per day, overwhelming spam filters and taking advantage of low-cost global texting infrastructure.

The scam’s success lies in scale rather than sophistication. Even if only a small percentage of recipients respond, the profits add up quickly. Law enforcement believes the total losses could exceed the reported $1 billion, as many victims never file official complaints or even realize they’ve been defrauded.

Experts warn that this trend reveals deep vulnerabilities in mobile communication systems and payment verification. They recommend ignoring suspicious payment messages, never entering personal data from unsolicited texts, and using carrier-level spam protection tools whenever possible.

As the scams continue to expand globally, regulators and telecom providers may soon face growing pressure to monitor text-message traffic and shut down SIM-farm operations before more damage is done.

Do you think mobile networks are doing enough to protect users from large-scale text scams like these?