US Treasury imposes sanctions on Chinese company over Hurricane Salt fraud Reuters

(This Jan. 17 story has been corrected to correct Kecheng’s name in paragraphs 3 and 4)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on alleged fraudster Yin Kecheng and cybersecurity company Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co., accusing both of being involved in a series of frauds against and American telephone companies.

The attacks, known as the Salt Storm, are said to have exposed a large number of American phones to Chinese spies and embarrassed the US intelligence community. In some cases, criminals have been accused of obstructing communications, including with prominent US politicians and government officials. Some lawmakers have described them as the worst cellphone crackdowns in US history.

In a statement, the Treasury explained Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology Co. as a hacking company with strong ties to China’s Ministry of National Security, the intelligence agency. It said that Yin Kecheng was in Shanghai, has worked as a fraudster for more than ten years, and has ties to MSS. He also alleged that he was tied to a recent crime at the US Treasury.

Reuters could not immediately reach Yin Kecheng or Sichuan Juxinhe. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Beijing has consistently denied responsibility for cyberespionage campaigns.