BEIJING - Chinese police solved about 78,000 telecom and online scam cases in 2017, up 55.2 percent compared with the previous year, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced Friday.

A total of 537,000 cases were placed on file for investigation by police nationwide in 2017, a decrease of 6.1 percent from 2016, amid a high-profile crackdown on telecom and online fraud.

The ministry said that losses of 300 million yuan ($47.3 million) were retrieved and given back to victims in 2017.

Chinese police have taken a tough stance against telecom and online fraud both inside and outside the country, effectively curbing the crime and safeguarding the interests of the people, the MPS said.