Recently, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security dispatched a team to Madagascar at the request of the local police to assist in combating telecommunications fraud. They successfully dismantled several telecommunications fraud rings in the capital of Antananarivo and other areas of Madagascar. This cooperation marks the first joint operation between Chinese and Malagasy police in the field of telecommunications fraud. On September 8th, the Malagasy side assisted in the successful repatriation of the first batch of 50 people involved in telecommunications fraud to China. Currently, the cases are being further investigated.
Earlier this year, China News Network cited a notice issued by the Chinese Embassy in Madagascar on May 26. It was stated that as several Southeast Asian countries continue to crack down heavily on telecom fraud, some criminal groups have begun shifting operations to Madagascar, attempting to rebuild their criminal networks. The Minister of Public Security of Madagascar also confirmed this trend, stating that the situation regarding telecom fraud crimes in Madagascar is quite severe. The Chinese Embassy in Madagascar has issued multiple warnings regarding this issue.
According to media report from lexpress.mu in the Southwestern Indian Ocean region, after the operation began, 160 Chinese nationals were arrested within several months. They are currently detained in the Avadalarano Central Prison in that area. Additionally, more than a dozen individuals from Malaysia, the Philippines, Rwanda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe have been convicted in this case. The exact number of these individuals has not been specified by authorities.
The Chinese Embassy in Madagascar stated that such groups often target Chinese citizens, using "high-paying jobs" as a bait.
Fraudulent gangs use social media to post false job advertisements, often using titles such as "E-commerce Customer Service", "Translator", "Chef", or "Promotion Staff" to promise "high salaries, round trip airfare, and accommodation." This lures citizens to go to Malaysia, where they are then forced to engage in telefraud activities. Upon arrival, victims are immediately taken away. Their personal belongings such as phones, passports, etc., are confiscated, leading to a loss of freedom and possible threats, intimidation, or even violence. They are then coerced into participating in fraud schemes against domestic citizens, especially the elderly.
Additionally, there are fraud operations operated by foreign nationals in Madagascar, with various types of frauds involved.
For example, fake investment frauds, especially those involving cryptocurrency investments, use ‘high returns’ as a lure; online love scams involve creating false emotional relationships through social platforms in order to defraud money; there are also schemes such as claiming to have won lottery prizes, pretending to be someone else to request financial assistance, and online shopping frauds.
The New Beijing News reported that in March 2026, Mr. Li was deceived and taken to Madagascar under the pretext of working in the catering industry there. Upon arrival, he discovered that the so-called “company” was actually a scam operation, with dozens of computers and several people involved. He pretended to comply, then tried to escape when he found himself penniless and had to wander the streets for several days. Eventually, with the help of the Chinese embassy in Madagascar and the local Chinese business community, he managed to return to China.
A relevant person from the Ministry of Public Security stated that this operation is an important achievement in deepening international law enforcement cooperation between China and Malaysia. The Chinese police will always maintain a 'zero tolerance' attitude. Working together with the recently established International Alliance against Telecom and Internet Fraud, they will collaborate with law enforcement agencies in other countries to completely eliminate locations where fraud and scams occur. They will also make every effort to apprehend criminal suspects and effectively protect the legal rights of people from all countries.
