Hong Kong police arrest 3 suspects over scheme to convert e-vouchers into cash as thousands of residents splash out at stores
- Three suspects are arrested in Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po and Tseung Kwan O after allegedly using social media to promote deal to convert e-vouchers into cash
- Residents go on shopping spree as AlipayHK reveals 20,000 users have already spent their vouchers in full
![Police have warned the public they could be charged with fraud if they try to convert e-vouchers into cash. Photo: Dickson Lee](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2022/04/09/c50fd399-9ce4-45e7-98fd-84982f85ca1d_ff5296b9.jpg?itok=kn416--q&v=1649504497)
Hong Kong police have arrested three people for allegedly cashing in the first batch of government-issued e-vouchers as tens of thousands of residents went shopping to take advantage of deals.
The trio had allegedly advertised on social media that they could convert consumption vouchers into cash for residents.
Disguised as customers in a crackdown on the scheme, officers found the suspects, who worked as store owners and salesmen, arranging bogus transactions with prospective shoppers.
“The suspects offered a 10 to 20 per cent discount to buy the HK$5,000 (US$637) e-vouchers so they can earn the difference and vendors can receive cash,” said Lam Tsz-lim, acting chief inspector of the Kowloon West regional crime unit.
Police warned the public that any residents and shop owners involved in such transactions could be arrested for fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail.
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