Hong Kong students conned out of HK$10.6 million in phone scams, but extradition bill protests put police on edge about warning them of threat
- Mainland and local students among victims as fraudsters impersonating Chinese officials bag HK$46.5 million in first six months of the year
- Source says ongoing political crisis has left police wondering whether they are welcome on campus
Hong Kong students were conned out HK$10.6 million in the first half of this year, but such is the bad relationship between police and the public, the force is hesitant to go to universities to warn students about the threat.
Some 36 mainland Chinese and local students fell victim to fraudsters posing as mainland officials in phone calls in the first six months of 2019, losing eight times more than 28 students did in the same period last year.
But a police source said the ongoing political crisis had left officers wary of taking a fraud prevention campaign into campuses.
“I am wondering whether our colleagues are welcome to hold talks and distribute fliers at universities,” the source said.
The source also expressed doubts as to whether officers could run booths to raise public awareness and promote crime prevention on the streets of Hong Kong, while residents hurled insult and vented their anger at officers.