A Shenzhen man suspected of illegally buying the personal details of 3 million people had been arrested, sources with the Futian District Procuratorate said Wednesday.
The man, surnamed Liu, founded a consultancy company in March 2009. The information illegally obtained on the Internet included mobile phone numbers, car ownership details, household registration, exit and entry information, and hotel check-in information, reports said.
Armed with the information, he allegedly charged high fees for services such as investigating extramarital affairs, conducting background checks, monitoring bank accounts, determining real estate ownership and other services involving private personal information.
Liu said he did not know who sold the information because the deals were concluded on the Internet.
Each time he needed information, he sent short messages or e-mails to the seller, who then sent him data by QQ instant messaging or e-mails. Liu then paid through the Internet. He was arrested in August this year.
