A broken contract is civil until the theory is deception-for-gain under Criminal Law — labels like 合同诈骗 are counsel-grade.
PRC Criminal Law fraud offences (including 诈骗 and contract-fraud variants) target illegal possession by deception. Commercial failures, unpaid debts and aggressive sales get over-charged when police treat a civil dispute as crime. Thresholds, intent, and victim statements drive the file. Keep case-narrative blogs for depth. This wiki is the offence orientation. Occupational embezzlement and employee misappropriation are different property crimes. Employer-help applies when staff are detained on fraud allegations.
4 questions before you choose the route.
This page identifies the right question and evidence. It does not determine the legal outcome on a reader’s facts.
Civil dispute or deception theory?
Do not guess online.
LabelWhat ‘gain’ is alleged?
Money, goods, data.
GainWhich article on the notice?
Wording.
ArticleInternal probe vs PSB file?
Investigations related pages.
LaneWorking rule: Map the regulated role before marketing or launch in China.
The signal ledger.
These facts move the question beyond a label and into a product, money-flow and control analysis.
Bring a compact evidence docket—not a pitch deck.
Give a compliance team or counsel the operating facts that reveal the perimeter.
Questions people ask before they build.
Short answers for orientation. The right result can change with the service model and current rules.
Can a civil case become criminal?
Yes, when authorities accept a fraud theory. Early counsel matters.
Where is a deal-vs-fraud deep piece?
Contract fraud or failed business deal china criminal defense.
Primary authorities
Reviewed sources support orientation, not a fact-specific assessment.