According to a July 21st announcement from the Cyberspace Administration of China, the central office has been actively addressing public concerns and intensifying efforts to handle reports of impersonation and counterfeit websites this year.

In the first half of the year, a total of 759 such fraudulent websites were processed and taken down, marking a 150% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

These websites impersonated five main categories: Party and government organs, public institutions, enterprises, social organizations, and international bodies.

Breakdown of Takedowns by Website Type

In terms of volume, 127 websites were found to be impersonating Party and government organs, such as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Xiong'an New Area, accounting for 16.7% of the total.

Impersonations of public institutions, including academic journal submission portals, schools, and hospitals, made up the largest portion with 310 websites, or 40.8% of the total.

Within this category, 180 sites impersonated academic journal submission platforms, representing 24%.

Impersonations of enterprises, encompassing state-owned, private, and foreign-funded companies, were the most numerous, with 313 websites accounting for 41.2% of all takedowns.

Of these, 205 sites impersonated private enterprises, constituting 27%.

Common Tactics and Examples

The first category involves websites impersonating Party and government organs.

These sites typically lure visitors with promises of applying for subsidies or preferential residency policies, or they misuse the names of agencies that have been renamed or dissolved, exploiting an "official" guise to deceive.

Examples provided include side-by-side comparisons of fake and genuine websites for the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Xiong'an New Area government service portal.

The second category is the impersonation of public institution websites.

These fraudulent sites often attract visitors under the pretense of registration, information queries, or qualification certification.

They may also misuse the names, publication numbers, and editorial office details of legitimate journals to illegally harvest personal information and original manuscripts, or even to charge fraudulent fees for submissions, certifications, or manuscript reviews.

For journal submissions, the public is advised to verify legitimate submission channels through the "Journal Search" section on the official website of the China Periodicals Association.

Examples shown include comparisons of fake and real versions of the China Graduate Admission Information Network and a counterfeit submission website for the journal "Publishing Research," which, upon investigation, was found to have no official submission site and only accepts submissions via email.

The third category covers websites impersonating businesses.

These sites primarily pose as well-known companies or e-commerce platforms, offering fake services or publishing false information to induce users to register accounts, provide personal details, or even make payments.

This not only damages corporate brand reputation but also frequently leads to the leakage of personal information and financial losses for users.

Examples include comparisons of fake and genuine websites for China National Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. and for the popular bubble tea chain MIXUE GROUP.

Important Reminders for the Public

The public is reminded to exercise caution when visiting websites by verifying domain names, ICP filing information, and the names of the sponsoring entities.

Remain vigilant towards links from unknown sources, pop-up ads, private messages on social platforms, and websites found through search engine results; do not trust them readily or transfer money.

Simultaneously, organizations that operate official websites and apps are urged to strengthen the management of their official channels and conduct regular risk assessments.

If impersonation is detected, they should promptly issue public statements to help the audience distinguish between real and fake sites.

The Central Cyberspace Administration's reporting center will continue to maintain open channels for reports and will handle tips related to impersonation and counterfeit websites in accordance with the law.

The public is encouraged to report such websites through the "Fraud" category portal on the center's official website to help combat these deceptive sites and maintain a clean cyberspace.