Update | Equity firm that bought 17 shopping centres from Link Reit falls victim to HK$39 million email scam
Scam is the biggest case involving a local company this year, say police sources
A private equity fund company involved in the largest sale of shopping centres in Hong Kong has become the city’s biggest victim of email fraud after being duped out of HK$39 million (US$5 million).
The scam came to light when the 31-year-old manager of Gaw Capital Partners in Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay made a report to police on Tuesday.
“An investigation showed the fraudster – posing as a client – sent a deceptive email to the company last Thursday, requiring the firm to withdraw US$5 million from her account and transfer the amount to a local bank account,” a police source said.
The company realised it was a scam when the genuine client contacted the company. An employee then made a report to police at about 11.15am.
The Post understands the client usually contacted the company and made financial investments by email.