虚拟货币成洗钱工具，谁在扮演“白手套”？

记者调查发现，随着虚拟货币的兴起，一些诈骗团伙开始利用虚拟货币转移、洗白赃款。犯罪分子为了隐藏身份，常常使用名为“跑分”的洗钱手段：利用互联网平台广泛发布兼职信息招募社会人员，通过交易平台买卖虚拟货币，最后由兼职者提现到跑分平台的钱包地址，兼职者中不乏学生群体。由于区块链钱包具有匿名性，买卖过程中实际留痕的只有兼职者，监管面临一定难题。

The journalist survey found that, with the rise of virtual money, some of the fraud syndicates began to use virtual money to transfer and launder stolen money. To hide their identities, criminals often use money-laundering techniques called “run-down”: using Internet platforms to widely disseminate part-time information to recruit social workers, to buy and sell virtual money through trading platforms and, finally, to hand over the wallet address of the running points to a part-time group of students.

赵乃育 绘

Chiu Nai Chiu.

虚拟货币成跨境洗钱通道

Virtual currency as a cross-border money-laundering route

去年10月，福建泉州市南安公安机关破获一起在本地设立窝点、针对境外人士实施“杀猪盘”诈骗案件，抓获12名犯罪嫌疑人，该犯罪团伙利用交友软件吸引海外用户到诈骗团伙架设的平台投资，涉案金额上千万元。

In October of last year, the security organs of Nanan, in Fujian Quan city, uncovered a local settlement, committed a “pork-killing” fraud against persons outside the country, and captured 12 suspects. The criminal group used dating software to attract foreign users to invest in platforms set up by fraud syndicates for a sum of tens of millions of yuan.

和此前通过银行卡层层转账转移赃款不同，诈骗团伙使用虚拟货币“泰达币”洗钱。

Unlike previous transfers of stolen funds through bank card layers, fraudulent groups use the virtual currency “Tedaco” to launder money.

“受害者打到虚假投资平台的钱款通常是国外货币，诈骗团伙将赃款用来购买虚拟货币，再将虚拟货币私下交易，兑换成人民币，完成洗钱。”南安市公安刑侦大队民警黄源锋说。

“The money that the victim hits a false investment platform is usually in foreign currency, and the fraud syndicate uses the stolen money for the purchase of a virtual currency, which is then traded in private, converted into a renminbi, and money-laundering is completed.” The police officer of the Public Security and Criminal Investigation Brigade of the city of South Ann, Huang Guofeng, said.

“当前电信网络诈骗团伙越来越多地使用虚拟货币”。记者在福建泉州、漳州、福州等地公安机关采访了解到。

“The current telecommunication network fraud syndicates are increasingly using virtual currency.” Journalists interviewed public security organs in Fujian Quan, Chenzhou and Fuzhou, among others.

据抓获的涉嫌洗钱的电信网络诈骗团伙人员交代，近年来公安机关开展“断卡行动”，打击采用买卖、租用他人银行卡及第三方支付账户层层转账转移赃款的洗钱手段，取得一定成效，而虚拟货币由于查询、冻结难及点对点交易等特征被越来越多的诈骗团伙使用。

In recent years, the public security organs have launched a “card break” operation to combat the use of money-laundering, which involves the purchase and sale of other persons' bank cards and the payment by third parties of transfers of stolen funds at the bottom of their accounts. Virtual currency has been used by a growing number of fraud syndicates because of features such as inquiries, difficulties in freezing and point-to-point transactions.

“目前电信网络诈骗80%以上具有跨境流动特点，不少诈骗团伙是在境外设立窝点，针对国内民众实施诈骗，近年来还出现回流的诈骗分子在境内设立窝点，专门针对境外人员实施诈骗，虚拟货币为诈骗团伙跨境转移赃款提供了便利。”泉州市公安局刑侦支队副支队长邱鑫说。

“More than 80 per cent of the telecommunication network fraud is currently characterized by cross-border movements, a number of the fraud syndicates are based abroad, fraud against the domestic population, and in recent years there have been back-to-back fraudsters setting up inside the country, targeting out-of-country fraud, and virtual currency facilitates the cross-border transfer of stolen funds by the fraud syndicates.” According to Quanzhou City Public Security Bureau, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Investigation Branch, Qiu Jun.

记者调查了解到，一方面，虚拟货币钱包地址体现为一串字符和数字，可点对点发送，具有可匿名、追踪难、交易便捷等特点；另一方面，虽然我国明确禁止代币发行融资和兑换活动，但由于其他很多国家和地区默许虚拟货币流通，可实现虚拟货币与全球货币的自由兑换，方便跨境清洗资金，因而被一些犯罪团伙用作洗钱工具。区块链咨询公司Chainalysis发布报告称，2021年，全球网络罪犯通过加密货币洗钱金额达86亿美元，较2020年增加30%。

The journalist survey found, on the one hand, that the virtual money wallet address is presented as a string of characters and numbers that can be sent point-to-point, with the characteristics of anonymity, difficulty in tracing, ease of dealing, etc., and, on the other hand, that while our country explicitly prohibits the financing and exchange of tokens, it has been used as a tool for money-laundering by criminal groups because many other countries and regions have acquiesced in virtual currency circulation, which allows the free exchange of virtual currency with global currency and facilitates the laundering of funds across borders.

近年来，国内已破获多起虚拟币洗钱案件，但案件呈现增长趋势。据公安部发布的消息，2021年，针对虚拟货币洗钱新通道，全国公安机关共破获相关案件259起，收缴虚拟货币价值110亿余元。

In recent years, several cases of money-laundering in virtual currency have been solved in the country, but there has been an increase in the number of cases. According to the Ministry of Public Security, in 2021, in response to the new channels for money-laundering in virtual currency, 259 cases were opened by public security organs throughout the country, with the value of virtual money collected in excess of 11 billion yuan.

诈骗真凶藏匿背后 “跑分平台”交易套现

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记者调查发现，从公安机关破获的案件看，电信网络诈骗团伙利用虚拟货币洗钱大致分为三个阶段，首先是犯罪分子将诈骗赃款用于购买虚拟货币，随后利用虚拟货币的匿名性进行多次交易，最后将“清洗”过的虚拟货币在境外交易所或境内私下交易中变现，完成洗钱操作。

The journalists' investigation found that, according to cases uncovered by the public security authorities, the use of virtual currency money-laundering by telecommunication network fraud syndicates is broadly divided into three stages, starting with the use of fraudulent money by criminals for the purchase of virtual currency, followed by multiple transactions using the anonymity of virtual currency, and ending with the “cleaning” of virtual currency in foreign exchanges or private transactions within the country and the completion of money-laundering operations.

在这一过程中，犯罪分子为了隐藏身份，常常使用到一种名为“跑分”的洗钱手段。公安机关介绍，“跑分”指的是诈骗团伙招募社会人员提供自己的银行卡、支付宝等账号，用以打款转账，逃避公安机关追查资金流向。近年来，随着监管加强，传统出租支付宝收款码、银行账户的跑分模式成本和风险渐高，犯罪分子开始盯上虚拟货币跑分。

In this process, criminals often use a money-laundering technique called “run points” in order to hide their identity. Public security organs state that “run points” means that a fraud syndicate recruits social workers to provide their own bank cards, payment of treasures, etc. to make money transfers and avoid the public security authorities from following up on the flow of funds.

“泰达币币值稳定，利用泰达币跑分不受监管限制，通道永不被冻结，同时是个人与个人之间的点对点分散式交易，安全便捷。”一名跑分人员列举了该洗钱模式的种种优点。

“Tedan currency is stable in value, with no regulatory restrictions on the use of the Tedar currency, and access is never frozen, and it is safe and secure for a point-to-point transaction between an individual and an individual.” A runner cited the advantages of the money-laundering model.

犯罪分子如何找到跑分人员，又是如何利用这些“白手套”完成资金洗白？记者调查发现，在互联网上，此类黑灰产已形成一条较为完整的链条。

How do criminals find runners and how do they use these “white gloves” to clean their money? A journalist survey found that such black ash products form a more complete chain on the Internet.

首先，犯罪分子利用互联网平台广泛发布兼职信息，吸引人员参与。在社交媒体上，不少人员发布信息买卖泰达币。记者循线进入一个“OTC场外交易群”，群中均是泰达币的买家与卖家，一名买家表示，自己“手上都是黑钱”，因此不方便在交易所直接购买虚拟币。记者发现，此类兼职交易信息广泛存在各类资讯和兼职网站，它们为吸纳跑分人员提供第一道入口。

First, criminals use Internet platforms to widely disseminate part-time information and attract people to participate. In social media, a number of people sell and sell information in Thai currency. Journalists follow the line into an “OTC out-of-the-counter” group of buyers and sellers, all of whom say that they have “black money” in their hands, thus making it difficult to buy virtual currency directly on the exchange.

随后，跑分平台将手把手教学，带领人员完成洗钱。在加密聊天软件“海鸥”中，记者找到一名泰达币跑分团长，他将记者拉入一个名为“天马跑分”的平台，并指导如何完成兼职。一般而言，参与者需要在虚拟货币交易所购买泰达币，随后提现到跑分平台的钱包地址，平台采取类似网约车的抢单机制，用户接单后可获得1.2%-1.8%的佣金。而一系列流程结束后，犯罪分子手中的人民币绕过交易所就被兑换成泰达币。“一般是帮‘菠菜’（博彩）跑，一天可以跑八九轮。”该团长说。

In an encrypted chat software called the Seagull, the journalist found a Tydalcon runner, who pulled the journalist into a platform called “Tian Ma Run” and gave guidance on how to do a part-time job. In general, participants needed to buy Thai coins at the Virtual Currency Exchange, and then took to the wallet address of the branch platform, which used a sort of contract-jacking mechanism, with users receiving 1.2% to 1.8% of the commission. After a series of processes had ended, the renminbi in the hands of criminals had been converted into tadaco.

此外，还有部分“跑分车队”私下交易完成洗钱，其流程大同小异——兼职者利用自己身份，购买虚拟货币后提现到区块链钱包，“跑分车队”计算本金与佣金后，将人民币转账到兼职者银行或支付宝账户，后者再将虚拟货币打入指定钱包地址。由于绕过平台抽成，类似交易佣金颇为诱人，普遍在10%-15%。

In addition, there are some “run-in-caravans” dealing privately to complete money-laundering. Their processes are very similar — part-timers use their identity to buy virtual currency and then withdraw their wallets to blocks, and “run-in-carryers” calculate the principal and commission, transfer the renminbi to part-time bank or pay the treasure account, which then inserts the virtual currency into the designated wallet address. As a result of bypassing the platform, similar transaction commissions are attractive, generally at 10-15 per cent.

“由于区块链钱包具有匿名性，整套流程中，实际留痕的只有购买虚拟货币的兼职者，避免了黑灰产从业者的正面接触，以逃避监管。”一名业内人士表示，参与此类跑分需要掌握访问境外互联网以及买卖虚拟货币的经验，不乏学生群体参与其中。

“As a result of the anonymity of the block chain wallets, only part-time buyers of virtual currency are actually left visible in the entire process, avoiding positive contact with black ash producers in order to avoid supervision.” One industry source stated that participation in such runs required experience in accessing the Internet abroad and trading virtual money, with the participation of student groups.

近年来，在公安部门侦查下，已有多个虚拟货币跑分平台被捣毁。2020年，广东惠州警方侦破全国首例泰达币新型跑分平台案件，涉案金额达1.2亿元，此后，各地都曾打击为境外网络赌博网站提供非法支付结算的虚拟货币跑分平台。

In recent years, several virtual money breakout platforms have been destroyed as a result of investigations conducted by the public security services. In 2020, the Guangdong State police investigated the country’s first case of the new Thai dollar run-off platform, amounting to 120 million yuan. Since then, the virtual money breakout platform, which provides illegal payment settlements for online gambling websites, has been combated everywhere.

多措治理虚拟货币洗钱乱象

multi-pronged management of virtual currency money laundering

2021年9月，因虚拟货币交易炒作活动抬头，扰乱经济金融秩序，滋生赌博、非法集资、诈骗、传销、洗钱等违法犯罪活动，危害人民群众财产安全，中国人民银行等10部委发布通知，严格禁止和依法取缔虚拟货币相关业务。

In September 2021, 10 ministries and departments, including the People's Bank of China, issued circulars strictly prohibiting and outlawing virtual money-related operations, as a result of the rise in activities related to virtual currency transactions, disrupting the economic and financial order, fostering gambling, illegal fund-raising, fraud, distribution and money-laundering, among other criminal activities, and endangering the security of people's property.

4月14日，公安部刑事侦查局局长刘忠义在国新办新闻发布会上表示，从资金通道看，传统的三方支付、对公账户洗钱占比已减少，大量利用跑分平台加数字货币洗钱，尤其是利用泰达币危害最为严重。

On 14 April, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ministry of Public Security, Liu Chung Yi, stated at a press conference organized by the new State, that traditional tripartite payments and money-laundering against public accounts had decreased from the point of view of the money channel, and that the use of running points and digital money-laundering was most dangerous, particularly the use of tedar currency.

记者采访多地公安机关了解到，虚拟货币分为场内交易所交易和场外私人交易两种情形，新规出台后，洗钱向更加隐蔽的私人交易转移，给警方查询造成一定困难，这一新兴的洗钱领域亟待加强打击力度。

Journalists interviewed a number of public security agencies in various parts of the country and learned that the new regulations, whereby money-laundering was transferred to more hidden private transactions, created some difficulties for police inquiries and that the emerging area of money-laundering needed to be combated more vigorously.

“近年来公安机关持续加大对电信网络诈骗‘资金流’管控，对洗钱犯罪保持严厉打击态势，依法查扣、冻结一批涉案虚拟货币。”泉州、漳州等地公安民警告诉记者。

“In recent years, the public security organs have continued to increase their control over telecommunication network fraud `fund flows', maintain a strong stance against money-laundering offences, and seize and freeze a collection of virtual currency involved in the crime, in accordance with the law.” Public Security Police in Quanzhou, Quanzhou, Quanzhou, etc. informed journalists.

相关人士建议，要针对利用虚拟货币洗钱犯罪链条特点，加大分析研判，建立更为精准的风险控制体系。记者采访了解到，近年来，公安机关加大和虚拟货币交易所、银行、第三方支付平台协作，利用大数据手段，及时发现异常可疑账户信息，加大精准溯源、打击力度。公安部门建议，交易所、互联网平台掌握大量用户资金和通信数据，可依托平台数据建立更加完善的分析模型，及时发现风险苗头。

In recent years, journalists have learned that public security agencies have increased their collaboration with virtual money exchanges, banks, and third-party payment platforms, using large data tools to detect unusual suspicious account information in a timely manner, and to increase their accuracy, traceability and suppression. The public security authorities have suggested that exchanges and Internet platforms have access to a large amount of user funds and communication data, so that they can build a better model of analysis based on platform data and identify risks in a timely manner.

记者发现，在社交媒体、短视频平台以及部分兼职网站上，都能看到“泰达币”等虚拟货币跑分以及出售虚拟货币的信息，一些加密聊天软件成为此类犯罪活动的交流场所，此外，还有部分软件开发商在互联网公然兜售虚拟货币跑分软件，并为上游黑产从业者提供各类量身定制功能。一些基层公安民警建议应进一步加强网络空间整治，消除有害信息，同时针对在校学生被蛊惑参与跑分的，联合教育部门加强以案释法，引导学生增强辨别能力和防范意识。

Journalists have found that virtual currency runs, such as “Tedaco” and sales, can be seen in social media, short video platforms, and part-time websites, and that some encryption chat software has become a clearing house for such criminal activities. In addition, there are software developers who openly sell virtual currency runs on the Internet and provide a variety of tailor-made functions for upstream black industry practitioners. A number of grass-roots public security police have suggested that cyberspace remediation should be further strengthened, with the elimination of harmful information, and that the education sector should be strengthened with a view to improving its ability to distinguish and protect against school students who are compelled to operate.

公安民警提醒说，从事虚拟货币跑分，参与者即使在与上游犯罪分子没有事先共谋的情形下，也将会涉嫌帮助信息网络活动罪、洗钱罪、掩饰隐瞒非法所得罪、开设赌场罪、诈骗罪、非法经营罪等，跑分并非网络宣传的“低风险高利润”，一些法治意识淡薄，贪图小便宜，以为是“兼职赚外快”的群体应提高警惕。

The Public Security Civil Police warned that, in the case of virtual currency runs, participants would be suspected, even in the absence of prior complicity with predicate criminals, of aiding information network activities, money-laundering, concealing illegal proceeds, opening casinos, fraud, illegal operations, etc., not being “low-risk, high-profits” for the purposes of the Internet, and that some groups with a low level of awareness of the rule of law and a low-cost desire for “part-time earnings” should be vigilant.