BEIJING, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Around 1,900 suspects have been detained so far in China's nationwide crackdown on health fraud scams launched earlier this year by public security authorities, the Ministry of Public Security announced Thursday.

Some 3,000 cases have been brought up against the suspects involved in the crackdown and more than 140 million yuan (around 20 million U.S. dollars) in losses have been recovered, according to ministry officials at a press conference.

The past few years have seen an increasing number of scams involving dietary supplements and other health products and new tactics used by criminals, the ministry noted.

Officials called for vigilance especially against criminal organizations, which, operating like companies, usually gain the elderly's trust by giving free gifts and offering free health checks, talks or travels, before stealing money by selling products that don't have the effects they claim.

The ministry vowed to establish a long-term mechanism to combat and prevent health fraud crimes.