Hong Kong girl, 13, tricked into giving HK$300,000 of gold, diamonds in duplication scam

A 13-year-old Hong Kong girl has been duped into giving gold and diamond jewellery worth HK$300,000 (US$38,470) to scammers who promised they could duplicate them and offer her rewards.

Police said on Friday evening that they had arrested a woman, 18, in Tsing Yi when the victim was making a trade with her two days earlier.

Investigations showed that the woman, who was arrested for obtaining property by deception, had previously fallen for the same kind of scam. She was released on bail and must report to police next month.

The force received a report that the girl gave scammers gold and diamond necklaces worth a total of HK$300,000 in four batches between August 28 and September 5 after she was told online that they could be replicated and sold.

The fraudsters were said to have promised to return the original necklaces and offered rewards, which never happened.

The girl’s family soon found that the jewellery was missing and suspected she had been conned and reported the case to police.