430,000 SMS Scam: Job Seekers' Resumes Become Fraud Tools

In September 2025, a massive wave of recruitment scam text messages flooded mobile phones across China. Messages claiming "Your resume has passed screening, please reply to receive interview notification" were sent to thousands of job seekers who had never actually submitted applications to these companies. The case, uncovered by police in Xixiu District, Anshun City, Guizhou Province, reveals the chilling reality behind recruitment fraud. The victim, identified as Cheng Mou, organized a group to send false interview invitations via SMS, impersonating legitimate enterprise recruiters. Using phone numbers obtained from an upper-level criminal and a prepared "recruitment script," they targeted job seekers with seemingly professional messages. By December 2025, Cheng's group had sent over 43,000 false recruitment text messages, earning more than 100,000 yuan in illegal profits. Each valid email address obtained was sold to the upper-level criminal for a fee. When the case reached trial, a critical legal question emerged: Should Cheng be charged with fraud or illegal use of information networks? Judge Li Bin from Shanghai Minhang People's Court explained that fraud requires "directly participating in deceiving victims for money," while illegal use of information networks punishes "preliminary drainage behaviors" that set the stage for fraud. Cheng was not paid based on fraudulent proceeds but rather received payment per message sent. His actions were merely the "prelude" to fraud, not the actual scam itself. The court ultimately convicted Cheng of illegal use of information networks, sentencing him to eight months in prison, suspended for one year, plus a fine of 20,000 yuan. This case illustrates a disturbing trend in recruitment fraud. According to 2025 data, such scams have evolved beyond simple fee collection to include identity theft, money laundering, and even cross-border criminal operations. Some individual cases have involved amounts exceeding 80 million yuan, with victims primarily aged 18-30. Experts warn job seekers to verify company credentials before applying, never pay upfront fees, and report suspicious recruitment messages to authorities immediately.