Police from China, the United States and the United Arab Emirates have carried out their first joint operation against telecom and online fraud, dismantling nine fraud dens in Dubai and arresting 276 suspects, China's Ministry of Public Security said on Sunday.

The operation marked the first international law enforcement collaboration among the three countries targeting such crimes, the ministry said.

According to an initial investigation, the fraud rings allegedly used social media platforms to approach victims and establish fake romantic relationships. After gaining their trust, the suspects induced victims to invest in so-called high-return cryptocurrency projects, resulting in financial losses.