Hong Kong accountant swindled out of HK$1 million in digital Tether coins in bogus cryptocurrency deal
- Detectives are investigating whether fraud syndicate set up shop in Tsim Sha Tsui to cheat victim
- Accountant had seen Instagram post about trading digital coins with better exchange rate, source says
Detectives are investigating whether the fraud syndicate set up the shop in the basement of Chevalier House on Chatham Road South to cheat the woman, 29.
The accountant saw an Instagram post about trading digital coins at a higher exchange rate with contact details provided, a source familiar with the case said on Monday.
She wanted to sell Tether digital coins and contacted a fraudster who posed as a shop employee. She was asked to visit the shop to carry out the transaction on Sunday night.
“During the meeting in the shop, a scammer posing as a staff member put a bundle of HK$1,000 banknotes on the counter for payment of the transaction,” the source said.
He said the woman transferred 128,040 Tether coins as instructed to a designated e-wallet account in exchange for HK$1 million.
“After she completed the transfer, the ‘employee’ asked the victim to wait outside the shop because he needed to go to the toilet,” the source said.
She realised she had been conned when the man failed to return and she was unable to contact him. She then called police at about 10pm on Sunday.