There was a sharp increase in phone scams in Hong Kong in the first eight months of this year and this is a cause for concern.
This telephone fraud has taken different forms, but there has been a steep rise in the number of cases where the fraudsters pose as mainland officials.
It is clear there is still a lack of awareness about this type of crime which has led to some people being duped into thinking the person they were talking to was, for example, an official from north of the border.
As you reported, in excess of "HK$100 million has been fleeced in just months" ("Join forces to beat phone scammers", October 5).
The government has a responsibility to try and raise levels of public awareness so that people learn to be vigilant when they receive a call from someone they do not know. They need to resist the pressure to make swift decisions over the phone which may prove costly. It has to be made clear to them that it is unlikely a mainland official would get in touch with them by phone.
The Hong Kong government can boost publicity with more advertising campaigns.
