A consumer recently complained that when trying to get a new SIM card in Nanchang, they were asked to provide a criminal record check—raising questions about the reasonableness of such demands. Some telecom service outlets even require additional documentation, such as proof of employment or bank statements, while others impose prepaid balance requirements of up to 1,000 yuan.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s regulations on real-name registration for phone users, no criminal record check is mandated. However, investigations reveal inconsistent practices across regions. Some service centers only require an ID card, while others demand extra documents like employment verification, bank transaction records, or even property ownership certificates or business licenses. Some outlets also enforce prepaid balances ranging from 500 to 1,000 yuan.
When questioned, staff at multiple outlets cited anti-fraud measures as justification—yet none could specify which regulations authorized these requirements. While telecom governance is indeed crucial in combating fraud, China’s Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law only emphasizes real-name registration, with no mention of supplementary proofs.
How, then, did demands for criminal records, employment verification, or bank statements emerge? And how does forcing users to prepay hundreds of yuan relate to fraud prevention? While anti-fraud efforts remain challenging, they should not justify arbitrary barriers or overreach that infringe on user rights.
In recent years, China has promoted reforms to reduce unnecessary documentation, improving public convenience through initiatives like "proof-free cities." Against this backdrop, some telecom operators continue imposing excessive demands, baffling consumers.
Raising arbitrary barriers does little to curb fraud but risks violating user rights and shifting anti-fraud responsibilities unfairly. Prepaid balance requirements, entirely unrelated to fraud prevention, further reflect a concerning "bullying-the-customer" mentality.
The Jiangxi Communications Administration has since ordered relevant companies to review and rectify these practices, ensuring user rights are protected. Combating fraud and serving the public are not mutually exclusive—anti-fraud measures should never excuse bureaucratic red tape. What truly needs reinforcement is operators’ service awareness and targeted anti-fraud actions.
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