Hong Kong police arrest 100 suspects over cyber fraud, with 1 love scam raking in HK$23 million after victim in Canada falls for ‘sweet talk’
- Week-long operation leads force to 63 cases of deception and money laundering, worth total of HK$81 million
- Chinese man, 60, in Canada lost most of all victims after falling prey to online love scam
The force on Wednesday said its week-long operation had led to the arrest of 71 men and 29 women aged from 17 to 74. The suspects came from all walks of life and included clerks, sales staff, retirees and the unemployed.
They were suspected of obtaining property by deception and money laundering in 63 cases worth a total of HK$81 million, with losses in each case ranging from HK$550 to HK$23 million.
Hong Kong crime levels up, fuelled by 45 per cent jump in deception cases
A 60-year-old Chinese man in Canada lost the most after being swindled by a fraudster in a love scam carried out on social media, police said. The force arrested a 47-year-old man in Hong Kong in connection with the case as his bank account was used to collect HK$2 million of the HK$23 million taken from the victim.
“The scammer used sweet talk to deceive the victim into making investments. The victim made multiple transfers,” said Chief Inspector Shun Po-chun of the Wan Chai district.
Many of the 100 suspects allowed fraud syndicates to access their bank accounts to collect and handle the stolen money, Shun said. She also urged residents not to lend their personal or company accounts to others.
One of those arrested was a suspected female fraudster, 39, who was believed to have stolen four credit cards from three victims and purchased goods worth a total of HK$210,000.
The force said it believed the thieves stole credit cards from residents who did not pay attention to their personal belongings in crowded areas. The scammers then passed cards on to their associates who made small purchases to check whether the victims had reported the cards as lost.
“Once they know there are no reports, they immediately head to large chain stores to purchase electronics, including laptops, mobile phones and gift cards that are easy to cash out for profit,” Shun said.
She reminded residents to watch out for pickpockets, while urging sales staff to contact police when they encounter suspicious transactions.
“As the city returns to normal after the pandemic, the public should stay vigilant in crowded places and keep an eye on their personal belongings,” she said.
Hong Kong police arrest 13 syndicate suspects for laundering HK$168 million
The force added that Wan Chai had recorded an increase in credit card fraud and theft, reaching 37 cases in the first quarter this year, more than double the 14 cases in the same period of 2022.
Money laundering in Hong Kong is punishable by up to 14 years in jail and a HK$5 million fine, while the offence of obtaining property by deception carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
More than 70 per cent of last year’s cases were related to online deception, with 22,797 reports of technology crime resulting in losses of HK$3.2 billion. Phone scammers cheated victims out of more than HK$1 billion in 2,831 cases.
Police, banks stepping up scam prevention, Hong Kong’s top cop says
Separately, police arrested nearly 300 people and seized more than HK$16 million worth of drugs in two anti-triad operations.
One of the operations, conducted from April 27 to 29 by the organised crime and triad bureau, involved raids on more than 200 illegal premises and crime black spots. The force arrested 225 people in connection with managing gambling establishments, trafficking drugs and money laundering, among other offences.
Officers seized about HK$1.96 million in cash, drugs with a street value of HK$1 million, 42 arcade fishing game machines and a large quantity of alcoholic beverages.
Another operation targeting two triad gangs in Tsim Sha Tsui, conducted by the Kowloon West regional headquarters, resulted in the arrest of 66 suspects and the seizure of drugs worth HK$15.6 million and contraband cigarettes valued at HK$500,000.
