Phone scammers cheat Belgium’s foreign affairs office out of 1.2 million euros – with part of the cash landing in Hong Kong account, writ says
Of the sum involved, 169,705 euros was transferred to an HSBC bank account of company in Sheung Wan, according to High Court document
The Belgian foreign affairs office has become yet another victim of phone scammers linked to the city, according to a Hong Kong court document.
The fraud took place last year, according to a High Court writ made available on Tuesday. An employee of the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium was duped into thinking a contractor that had been carrying out construction work for the office had called her.
Bernadette Keyeux, the employee, then deposited 1.18 million euros (US$1.36 million) into what she thought was a new bank account for Willemen General Contractor – until the office later found out it was part of a fraud.
Of the sum involved, 169,705 euros was transferred to an HSBC bank account belonging to a Hong Kong-registered company called Grand Develop Limited in Sheung Wan.
The office is seeking repayment of the sum with interest, and is urging the Hong Kong courts to allow it to look into the HSBC account in question.