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Scams and swindles

Scams and swindles
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Scams and swindles. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A sophisticated scam gang in China conned a man by posing as a woman using voice changers, before he reported them after noticing different voices. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
Trending in China

China scammers con man by posing as 1 woman using voice changers; victim calls police

Sophisticated online racket in which gang members played different roles to exploit ‘desires’ of vulnerable men busted by investigators.

Indonesia

Indonesia arrests founder of high-flying fish start-up over fraud scandal

Trending in China

Jailed China fraudster, wed, divorced 6 times, conned partners out of US$280,000

Donald Trump

US woman who funnelled Chinese investor money to Trump campaign pleads guilty

Sherry Li, a New York businesswoman, promised her victims US permanent residency and sold access to politicians.

Sherry Li appears in a photo taken at a June 2017 event with US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. Photo: US Department of Justice
Trending in China

Chinese woman dates 20 men, asks for iPhones, sells them to help fund flat purchase

Cross-dressing sex scam makes 10 million people online revisit story of woman who dated 20 men simultaneously in flat-buying racket.

Blockchain

China convicts crypto money launderers who embezzled US$20 million

The case adds to the amount of confiscated crypto assets accumulated by China, which prohibits the trading of such virtual assets.

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United States

Indonesia’s ‘Hollywood Con Queen’ loses UK extradition bid, faces US trial

Hargobind Tahilramani, accused of US$1 million fraud, failed to block US extradition on mental health and human rights grounds.

Hargobind Tahilramani is wanted in California for defrauding 300 people out of US$1 million. Photo: Apple TV
Crime in Hong Kong

2 Hong Kong teens among 80 conned over 4 weeks in compensated dating scams

Police say losses reached HK$3.7 million, including HK$5,500 paid by two boys to online ‘dates’ who never showed up.

China society

Being Chinese | I escaped a Chinese guoxue ‘reading group’. My friend is less lucky

The trend of ‘national studies’ unsettled me. Packaged in Chinese symbols – robes, incense, ancient wisdom – much of it felt too commodified.

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India

Fake ambassador arrested in India for running embassy of imaginary micronations

Police say he posed as a diplomat for fictional countries to exploit jobseekers and launder money through shell firms.

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The man behind the operation, Harshvardhan Jain, allegedly posed as a ‘Baron’ and the ambassador of Westarctica. Photo: Handout
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police investigate Cambodian scam farm link to missing girl

Hong Kong police source says teenager has been found in Cambodia and is now under care of Chinese authorities in the country.

Wu Peishan left Haifeng in Guangdong province on July 1. Photo: Handout
Trending in China

Chinese student in Myanmar scam freed after gang realises he has ‘bright future’

After shaving his head, gang boss sets captive free, tells promising student to ‘study hard’ and ‘be good to parents.’.

Trending in China

Chinese woman lives 2 months for free, exploits shop return policies, scams men

Police say woman who lived high on the hog carried box of dead crickets in her bag to trick hospitality outlets over hygiene conditions.

Trending in China

Chinese ‘military officer’ dates man for 8 years, vanishes with US$91,000

‘Too trusting’ factory worker swallows ‘confidential’ lies of fake soldier who has been placed on police wanted list after scam unravels.

A woman in China who claimed to be a military officer and dated a man for eight years has vanished with US$91,000 given to her to cover a bogus home renovation and made-up wedding expenses. Photo: SCMP composite
Hong Kong society

Fact-Check | ‘SCMP report’ claiming Hongkongers ‘will receive income from taxes’ is fake

A website claiming to promote a trading platform uses fabricated Post article to push hoax.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Editorial | Hong Kong’s fight against SIM card fraud must still preserve rights

Laws on SIM card fraud are worth pursuing as long as rules and enforcement are balanced to safeguard rights, including individual privacy.

Crime in Hong Kong

Price of ‘easy money’: Hong Kong teens held over alleged illegal debt collection

Investigations suggest two boys, 16, were allegedly offered wages of up to HK$1,000 a day by gangs to take part in illegal debt collection.

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Cambodia

27 Chinese nationals among 1,000 arrested in Cambodia scam raids

A recent report by Amnesty International into cybercrime in Cambodia highlights state complicity in abuses by Chinese criminal gangs.

Suspects are seen with their hands tied after being detained during a police raid on a scam centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
Crime

Chinese police investigating 5 missing teens warn of telecoms crime risk

Some families report their missing loved one was last seen in a border area or relatives had received messages from Myanmar.

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Crime

Europol-led global swoop takes down pro-Russian cybercrime network

‘NoName057(16)’ group, which targeted Ukraine and its allies with DDoS attacks, had its infrastructure disrupted across more than a dozen nations.

The Philippines

How a scam network evolved after a nationwide crackdown in the Philippines

Observers warn the Pogo industry’s replication in Pakistan is part of ‘a natural progression’ for illegal networks.

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Philippine pesos in a casino. Revenue from Pogo operations peaked at US$116.4 million in 2018. Photo: Shutterstock
Crime in Hong Kong

Online job scams in Hong Kong jump 92% amid rise in ‘click farming’ tactics

Police say 2,148 online employment scams recorded from January to May, up about 92 per cent over same period last year.

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The click farming scams lure victims in by initially offering them small rewards for easy tasks. Photo: Getty Images
Banking & finance

Stablecoin scams put China’s financial regulators in a high-stakes balancing act

After millions were defrauded by a stablecoin-linked investment ploy, local-level governments started sending out warnings.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Lawmakers warn SIM card limits won’t stem tide of phone scams in Hong Kong

Lawmaker Peter Shiu calls for tightening proposed measures by limiting number of service providers people can register SIM cards with.

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong couple arrested over trying to open HSBC account with fake bonds

Alleged incident was reported to force by bank staff at 12.35pm on Monday, prompting officers to arrest couple for using false instrument.

While police stopped short of directly naming the company involved in the case, it said the suspects had gone to a bank on 29 Queen’s Road Central, which is the location of an HSBC branch. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Thailand

Decline in Chinese tourists sees Thailand target Southeast Asia, Middle East

Thailand cut its 2025 foreign arrival forecast from 40 million to 35 million due to safety concerns for Chinese tourists after incidents like actor Wang Xing’s kidnapping.

Chinese tourists and others wait to visit the Emerald Buddha Temple inside of the Grand Palace, next to a tour guide sign written in Chinese characters. Photo: EPA-EFE
Crime in Hong Kong

Phone scams in Hong Kong up 22% in first 5 months of year but losses down

Police say losses have fallen more than 60 per cent due to fewer cases involving mainland Chinese students, who tend to be cheated out of larger amounts.

Hong Kong society

Opinion | Hong Kong must stop loan sharks from preying on the vulnerable

Consultation must result in reforms that better protect the public and ensure city’s notorious loan sharks are not able to prosper.

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