Technology-related crimes in Hong Kong surged 47.3% in first half of 2023, with police pointing to growing online activity after Covid pandemic
- Police recorded 15,637 cases of technology-related crimes between January and June, covering offences such as hacking, internet fraud and online theft
- ‘This rise is in line with the increase of things taking place online, as economic activity continues to ramp up following the pandemic,’ police say
Technology-related crimes in Hong Kong surged nearly 50 per cent in the first six months of the year compared with the same period last year, with police attributing the rise to an increase in online economic activity as the Covid-19 pandemic eased.
Senior Superintendent Raymond Lam Cheuk-ho of the force’s cyber security and technology crime bureau on Tuesday said police logged 15,637 of such cases in the first half of this year.
The recorded incidents led to HK$2.03 billion (US$259 million) in financial losses and included offences such as hacking, internet fraud, misuse of accounts and online theft.
Compared with the same period last year, the figures represented a 47.3 per cent jump in cases and a 28 per cent rise in the amount of money stolen.
“This rise is in line with the increase of things taking place online, as economic activity continues to ramp up following the pandemic,” Lam said during the closing ceremony for the force’s “BugHunting Campaign”.
