LOANSHARKS, known for their cruel and violent methods of making money, have focused on a more subtle way of stripping the assets of their victims.
In a classic case of naked greed, the gangsters are forsaking their traditional weapons of bamboo poles, choppers and pistols for Polaroid cameras . . . and photographing their 'clients' naked.
If the loans, along with their extortionate interest, are not repaid on time the pictures are made public.
'This is happening in Macau and Hong Kong,' said one police officer. 'If they don't pay up, they put up the photos where the people live or work.
'I don't think it has ever come to that because people normally pay up because of face.' Loansharks charge interest rates of up to 70 per cent per week and operate through most levels of the community, principally targeting gamblers who are down on their luck.
Young men working for the gangs hang around in Macau's thriving casinos looking for losing gamblers who are short of money. They are then offered a loan which many accept believing they can win their money back with the extra cash.