China removes 759 fake websites in scam crackdown

China's cyberspace authorities referred 759 counterfeit and fraudulent websites to be taken down in the first half of this year, up 150 percent from the same period in 2025, the country's top cyberspace regulator announced on Tuesday, China Daily reported.

The counterfeit websites targeted Communist Party of China and government bodies, public institutions, companies, social organizations and international organizations, according to a news release issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China.

Fake corporate websites accounted for the largest share, with 313 cases, or 41.2 percent of the total. Among them were 205 counterfeit private company websites.

Another 310 websites, or 40.8 percent of the total, posed as public institutions, including academic journals, schools and hospitals. Fraudulent academic journal submission websites alone accounted for 180 cases, representing 24 percent of the total.

Authorities also referred 127 websites impersonating Party and government bodies, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the government service platform of the Xiong'an New Area.

According to the release, fake government websites often lured users with the promise of subsidies, preferential household registration policies or other public services. Some also used the names of government departments that had been renamed or abolished to make fraudulent operations appear legitimate.

Counterfeit corporate websites typically used the names of well-known companies or e-commerce platforms to offer fake services or publish false information, inducing users to register accounts, provide personal information or even make payments, the regulator said.

Such websites can damage companies' reputations while exposing users to personal information leaks and financial losses, it added.

The regulator urged website operators to strengthen the management of their official websites and applications, conduct regular security and risk inspections, and issue public alerts when counterfeit websites are discovered.