China's netizens lost USD 13 bn due to online frauds: Survey

China's Internet users have lost a whopping USD 13 billion due to personal information leaks and online fraud this year, according to a new survey that casts doubts on its fast-growing e-commerce market.
Conducted by non-governmental organisation Internet Society of China, the survey found 7 per cent of netizens lost over 1,000 yuan on average in the past year because of online fraud and personal information leaks.
According to the survey released yesterday, 78.2 per cent of the respondents said their personal information, including their name, home address and ID number, was leaked while 63.4 per cent said their online activities, such as call logs, online shopping records and IP address, were disclosed, state-run Global Times reported.

The report said that netizens lost over 80 billion yuan (USD 13 billion) this year due to personal information leaks and online fraud, the report said.
China has 649 million Internet users. But it has long had some of the world's most severe Internet restrictions.
The Communist nation exercises tight control over the Internet, saying it is needed to ensure social stability and to protect consumers and brushing off concerns from rights groups.

Some 82 per cent of Internet users said the leak of their personal information has affected their lives while about 50 per cent said the situation is getting more serious.

More than 76 per cent said they have been tricked by website addresses disguised as bank, Internet companies and TV stations which offered them prizes, while over 50 per cent said they have received messages in the name of China Mobile or China Construction Bank and phone calls claiming to be from public security or health bureaus.
E-commerce and Internet-driven business have boomed in China in recent years, and some analysts say the growth has outpaced the abilities of companies and the government to regulate and support the industry.
China's total online sales are expected to rise to over USD 356 billion by next year.

According to the survey, which polled 16,925 Internet users from May 15 to June 15, over 70 per cent of netizens said they could not block advertising websites, did not know where the computer or cell phone applications came from and could not delete any pre-installed software.
Most Internet users said they have encountered fraudulent websites, discovered fake reviews while shopping online and received messages containing Trojans or pornographic messages.
Last year, Chinese actress Tang Wei, who starred in Ang Lee's movie 'Lust, Caution', had made headlines as a victim of a telecom fraud. Tang was fooled over the phone to go to a bank and wire 210,000 yuan to the suspected scammer.