Hong Kong fitness centres closed after 16 arrested for aggressive selling of gym memberships
- Six victims coaxed into parting with HK$600,000 through ‘unscrupulous sales tactics’
- Some were tricked with help of grocery staff, another frogmarched to moneylender, customs says
Directors from four fitness centres in Hong Kong were among 16 people arrested for the aggressive selling of gym services in which a victim was taken to a moneylender to pay for membership, customs revealed on Friday.
Six people lost HK$600,000 (US$77,200) after they were subjected to “unscrupulous sales tactics” that also included presenting a service contract as a questionnaire, officials said.
Two of the centres in Mong Kok were shut down following the arrests, but the others in Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei were still in operation, as of Friday.
“We will closely monitor the two fitness centres which are still open for business,” a law enforcement source said.
“If necessary, undercover agents will be deployed to investigate whether the centres continue to use unscrupulous sales tactics.”
Customs officers are investigating whether the same syndicate was behind the four fitness centres.
It is understood two of the four gyms involved were named and reprimanded by the Consumer Council several months ago for using aggressive sales tactics.