Hong Kong police arrest 1, seek 3 others over ride-hailing fraud syndicate ties
Man, 53, suspected of providing personal information used to open accounts for unqualified drivers, while three others wanted over case
Hong Kong police have arrested a 53-year-old man for allegedly providing his information to a fraud syndicate to create a rented ride-hailing account and are searching for three other suspects, following a passenger’s complaint about a driver without a Hong Kong ID card.
Police Superintendent Li Muk-yik, who called the syndicate’s behaviour “extremely despicable”, said the three wanted individuals were a core member of the syndicate, the driver involved in the passenger’s complaint and the owner of the vehicle.
The arrest came after a passenger filmed his experience on Monday while calling a ride-hailing service on the Amap platform. A male driver admitted he did not hold any Hong Kong ID card, suggesting he was an illegal worker in the city.
The trip was arranged by a service provider, Universe Call, which on Wednesday said that it had permanently suspended the driver’s account.
Amap is operated by Alibaba Group Holding, the owner of the South China Morning Post.
“Through an in-depth investigation, police have discovered that the case involved a fraud syndicate that was controlling things from behind,” Li said.