China Took Down 759 Counterfeit Websites in H1 2026

China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC) Report Center announced on July 21 that it handled 759 counterfeit websites in the first half of 2026, marking a 150% year-on-year increase from the same period in 2025. Over 80% of the impersonated entities were enterprise and institutional websites, according to Xinhua News.

Escalating Threat Landscape

The latest figures continue a sharp upward trend in both the proliferation of counterfeit websites and enforcement actions against them. In the full year of 2025, the CAC handled 1,418 counterfeit sites — a 1.7-fold increase from approximately 525 in 2024, as detailed in the CAC’s year-end report. The H1 2026 tally of 759 sites suggests the pace of enforcement is accelerating to match a rapidly growing problem.

Breakdown by Impersonated Entity

According to the CAC announcement published via the “网信中国” (Wangxin Zhongguo) WeChat account and reported by state media including CCTV, the 759 counterfeit sites broke down as follows:

• Enterprise websites: 313 sites (41.2%) — the largest category, including 205 private enterprise sites (27%) and 108 state-owned and foreign enterprise sites
• Public institutions: 310 sites (40.8%), of which 180 were fake academic journal submission portals (24% of total)
• Government and Party organs: 127 sites (16.7%), including impersonations of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Xiong’an New Area
• Social and international organizations: the remainder

Common Scam Tactics

The counterfeit websites employed a range of fraudulent schemes designed to deceive users into surrendering personal information or money. These included fake subsidy and benefit claim portals, fraudulent job registration and recruitment sites, bogus academic journal submission platforms that charged review and printing fees, counterfeit e-commerce platforms and investment schemes, and fake anti-counterfeit verification systems.

In a separate operation in March 2026, the CAC coordinated with market regulators to shut down 46 websites impersonating “315” consumer protection platforms. Liu Han (刘涵), Director of the First Disposal Division at the CAC Report Center, told China National Radio at the time: “For us, ‘every report is the power of co-governance.’ This handling of reports against counterfeit ‘315’ websites is a concrete measure of the CAC’s practice of the online mass line.”

Why Enterprises Are the Primary Target

With 41.2% of impersonated entities being enterprises — and 27% specifically private companies — the private sector bears the heaviest burden of brand damage and customer trust erosion. Fake e-commerce platforms, investment sites, and franchise opportunities are among the most common lures used to defraud consumers.

Long Liang (隆亮), Secretary-General of the China Anti-Counterfeiting Industry Association, advised consumers in March 2026 to “enter verification pages through official channels such as brand official websites,” noting that anti-counterfeit verification services are primarily provided by industry departments, anti-counterfeit enterprises, and brand companies.

Academic Community at Risk

Fake academic journal submission sites — 180 out of 759, or 24% of all counterfeit sites handled — represent a significant threat to researchers. These sites typically impersonate legitimate journals, charging fees for review or publication while potentially stealing original research manuscripts. The CAC noted that many such sites use well-known journal names, ISSN numbers, and editorial board information to appear legitimate.

Broader Implications

The surge in counterfeit websites underscores a growing challenge to China’s digital trust ecosystem. As the government actively promotes the digital economy, the proliferation of fraudulent sites undermines consumer confidence and damages brand reputations. The CAC’s enforcement model — which relies on public reporting through its website (www.12377.cn) and coordination with local authorities and market regulators — represents a centralized, state-led approach to cybersecurity that differs from many Western models.

What to Watch For

The data suggests that counterfeit website scams are growing rapidly, likely driven by increasing digitization of services and the profitability of such schemes. Key questions remain unanswered: How many counterfeit sites remain undetected? What is the total economic damage caused? And what proportion of these sites operate from servers outside China, posing jurisdictional challenges for enforcement? The CAC has indicated it will continue to strengthen its reporting channels and enforcement efforts throughout the remainder of 2026.