Hong Kong’s new police anti-fraud squad freezes HK$99 million in scammers’ accounts in just five months
Team to double in size after dealing with 441 requests to halt payment of HK$880 million lost in various scams since centre was set up in July
The Hong Kong police force’s new anti-fraud squad has dealt with about 450 requests to halt the payment of a total of HK$880 million lost in various online and phone rackets in less than five months, prompting the force plan to double its manpower, the Post has learned.
While dealing with more than 9,800 calls to the centre’s 24-hour inquiry hotline (18222), one police source said, the team also prevented 44 callers from falling for online or phone scams.
“[The 44 callers] included would-be victims and those who were told to pay more after being already having been scammed,” he said.
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Since July 20, the centre has received 441 requests to halt payments totalling HK$880 million that had been transferred into scammers’ bank accounts. More than half of the requests were made by overseas companies and law enforcement agencies.