8 million) recovered and 1,469 people arrested for cheating since the drive began.

Wu said telephone fraud had been on the rise before the ministry started the campaign.

In eastern Jiangsu province, nearly 600 cases of fraud have been reported on a monthly basis at the beginning of the year, but after the crackdown just 10 cases reported in August, Wu said.

Huang Zuyue, vice director in charge of criminal investigations with the ministry, warned that the tricksters might now target the central and western parts of China.

He urged the public, especially the elderly and middle-aged, who account for 70 percent of the victims, to be on guard against telephone swindles.