A text message fraud case involving more than 845,000 yuan (US$105,000) has been heard by a local court in Beijing.

The People's Court of Xicheng District did not pronounce a final verdict on the case on Monday because further investigations are needed, according to court sources.

The court found that Wang Wenbin, 24, from central China's Hunan Province, pretended to be a bank employee and sent text messages to mobile phone users in Beijing, saying their bank accounts had been breached and they had to transfer deposits to designated accounts for safety.

Wang confessed that he cheated seven people of over 845,000 yuan in eight days from Sept. 27 to Oct. 4, 2005, according to the court. A ministerial level official was among the victims and he was the first to report the fraud to police.

But Wang pleaded not guilty in court and denied all the charges against him, saying that the frauds were masterminded by his roommate Wang Yong, who is still at large.

Police said Wang was carrying four mobile phones when he was arrested in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, on Oct. 4 last year.

When they searched Wang's residence, police seized 80 more mobile phones, 41 bankcards, 19 identity cards, 57 automatic message senders and 200,000 yuan (US$ 25,000) in cash. Police have identified Wang's signature on the accounts that harbored the swindled money.

China had 426 million mobile phone subscribers in June this year, and over 200 billion text messages were sent in the first six months. Mobile phones are one of the most widely used channels for exchanging information, and have been used as tools by swindlers.

Beijing police have been receiving calls from cell phone users -- 1,300 calls in January alone -- who receive suspicious text messages.

(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2006)