Letters | Prioritise scam victims’ well-being in fighting transnational cybercrime
Readers discuss how to better address internet scams, fire safety tips, and the charms of Shenzhen
You rightly highlight the severe financial toll of internet fraud – nearly HK$14 million (US$1.8 million) lost in the first week of 2026 alone – and stress the urgent need to support victims’ mental health. Hong Kong must build stronger safety nets to protect and assist those affected by these crimes.
Beyond devastating financial losses, internet fraud inflicts profound mental, emotional and psychological harm on victims, often with ripple effects on their families, including strained relationships and distress. These cybercrimes also erode trust in digital platforms, damage personal reputations, threaten economic stability and challenge the effectiveness of law enforcement and public policy.
In recent decades, online scams have evolved into a global security threat. Their increasing sophistication – fuelled by personalised, tech-driven and highly convincing tactics – has outpaced traditional countermeasures, leaving governments and police forces worldwide struggling to respond effectively.
In the past five to six years, academic researchers and psychologists have highlighted the need to treat this as a pressing transnational issue. Cybercriminals exploit borderless digital environments and cutting-edge technologies, rendering national jurisdictions inadequate. There is a need for greater global awareness, enhanced international cooperation and more robust cross-border enforcement strategies to counter this dynamic threat. Many countries are now exploring promising prevention and intervention approaches, including culturally tailored digital literacy programmes, emotional resilience training, stigma reduction campaigns and stronger international regulatory collaboration.