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Clifford Lo

Crime bosses behind an Asia-wide phone scam racket that has fleeced hundreds of Hongkongers out of HK$350 million in less than a year have shifted their operations to the Philippines as the ­regional law enforcement noose tightens.
Police sources said the move was an attempt to secure “political cover” as the gangs believed frosty Sino-Philippines relations would hinder mainland officers in cooperating with their counterparts in Manila against them.
Police sources told the Post scammers had set up call and command centres in the Philippines and were still raking in cash from Hong Kong victims.
The move followed a massive crackdown led by mainland ­police against overseas-based phone scam groups across Asia.
Since October, mainland ­police have sought help from overseas officers to nab several scam gangs in Indonesia, Cambodia and other nearby countries.
Hong Kong businessman cheated out of record HK$58m in phone scam
“Intelligence indicated the syndicate [based in the Philippines] is one of the major active phone scam rackets to target Hongkongers,” a source said.
The syndicate’s masterminds and core members were understood to be from Taiwan. To avoid detection, they did not hire locals, recruiting instead from Taiwan and the mainland. Participants pocketed 5-10 per cent of what they duped victims into paying.

Victims are typically told a ­parcel they had posted was problematic and violated mainland laws. They are then transferred to someone claiming to be mainland police.
Victims are told to prove their willingness to cooperate by sending money to a mainland bank ­account for investigative purposes. Most victims realise they have been cheated after finding their bank accounts depleted.
English speakers in Hong Kong targeted by phone scam syndicates – police warn of change in tactics by crime syndicates
Latest police figures showed that in April such scams duped 26 people in Hong Kong into paying more than HK$11 million.
Between July last year and March, the overseas-based syndicates cheated Hongkongers out of more than HK$340 million.
The city’s biggest victim, a ­53-year-old businessman, lost more than HK$58 million over five months. He got a call in October, later realised he was cheated, and sought help in March.
Police said half the victims were new immigrants, students and workers from the mainland.
Another source hoped the Philippines-based syndicate would be cracked after the country’s president-elect, Rodrigo ­Duterte, improved relations with the mainland.
Ties between the two countries worsened sharply throughout the six-year term of sitting president Benigno Aquino, with conflicting claims to parts of the South China Sea, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
But Duterte, to be sworn in ­later this month, said last month that he wanted friendly relations with China and confirmed he was open to direct talks over the territorial row, which has badly ­damaged bilateral ties.


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Scams and swindles

Phone scam targets Hongkongers, exploits rocky relations between China and Philippines

Mainland police flying back to China after apprehending phone scam suspects in Kenya in April. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong businessman cheated out of record HK$58m in phone scam

<p>Yuen Long resident, 53, becomes city’s biggest loser in a transnational phone scam</p>

A police officer walks by a poster encouraging residents to beware of phone scams. Photo: David Wong

English speakers in Hong Kong targeted by phone scam syndicates – police warn of  change in tactics by crime syndicates

No Caption Available.

Typical scam calls involve a recorded message telling the victims they have a package with a courier company. Photo: Shutterstock

Philippines’ Duterte offers hand of friendship to China

Presumptive Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a press conference in Davao Province, the Philippines, May 16, 2016. Photo: Xinhua

epa05310006 A handout photo released by Davao City Information Office shows Philippine presumptive president-elect Rodrigo Duterte (L) meeting with Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua during a courtesy call in Davao city, southern Philippines, 16 May 2016. Duterte is set to become the country's new president and will officially takes office at the end of June. EPA/DAVAO CITY INFORMATION OFFICE/ HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Post also learns overseas-based syndicates cheated city residents out of more than HK$340 million from last July to March
