The Ministry of Public Security said at least 1,500 suspects have been arrested in line with the government's intensified campaign against crimes committed through the use of telecommunications base stations.

The month-long crackdown also resulted to the confiscation of 2,600 base station equipment, the closure of 24 plants that produce such devices, and the identification of a total 3,500 related cases.

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The crackdown was aimed against fake base stations that have been used by criminals in sending out spam text messages to mobile users.

The criminals usually use fake numbers to send out communications disguised as coming from the police, banks or telecom companies.

The criminals make money when victims give out their personal information, banking details, or security PINs thinking they were communicating with customers service officers of their banks or telecom providers.

The crackdown, which started last February, was participated in by various law enforcement agencies, government departments, and IT industry agencies.

In one case, the Liaoning Province police have apprehended a group suspected of sending out over 200 million messages that were deemed spam.

Last January, the Shanghai police arrested members of a gang that sent thousands of spam text messages a day. Five illegal mobile stations were also confiscated.

One of the gang members said they usually charge around 4,500 yuan to clients who want their messages sent to 200,000 mobile users in Shanghai.

Since last year, authorities in Shanghai have arrested 40 suspects involved in the illegal activity and seized 30 sets of devices used in the crime.

According to sources, more than 60 percent of spam messages sent to mobile phones were from base stations.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology earlier announced that it will issue new rules on text messages this year but experts said the problem will not be solved unless a new legislation will be enacted.