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Scams and swindles

Police say fraudsters asked their targets out on dates after initiating contact. Photo: Shutterstock

50 Hongkongers lose HK$2.83 million in a week from ‘compensated dating’ scams

Police warn over fraudsters posing as attractive dates online, with victims told to pay deposit for service that promises companionship or sex.

‘A good decision’: Singapore proposes unprecedented anti-scam powers for police

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Singapore ends pursuit of 15 laundering suspects who surrendered US$1.4 billion

Hong Kong police hunt pair who stole necklace from man lured to flat for massage

Source says woman brought 63-year-old victim to flat with promise of massage but fled with another suspect after stealing gold necklace.

The victim was approached on Tung Lok Street in Yuen Long. Photo: Google Maps

Hong Kong launches first cybersecurity drill after surge in hacking cases

Government says it plans for 60-hour drill to become annual exercise, as innovation minister calls cybersecurity ‘long-term task’.

115 Hongkongers lose HK$22 million in a week in click farming scams

Police remind public to be wary of employment fraud schemes in which victims are baited with ‘commissions’ to boost online sales of products.

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Fraudster claims to be Hong Kong deputy police chief demanding pay-off

Criminal tactics evolving, force says, as it reveals 734 reports of scammers posing as officers in first nine months of year, an increase of 8.1 per cent.

Top police officers (from left) deputy commissioner for national security Andrew Kan Kai-yan, chief Raymond Siu Chak-yee, deputy commissioner for operations Joe Chow Yat-ming and deputy commissioner for management Johnson Chan. Photo: Handout

Man in China flaunts US$25 million ‘gift’ from grandma, arrested for faking wealth

In response to scepticism about his wealth, young man shares screenshot of bank account, which only fuels more doubt.

Hong Kong police warn of scams targeting mainland students after fake kidnapping

Fraudster in police uniform told mainland Chinese student to hide in remote area and record videos of himself begging for mercy to extort HK$6 million from his father.

Man pays China lover to burn old marital bed in ritual then she vanishes

Court rules fraud after gullible man forks out US$14,000 on ‘tradition’ to destroy bed which new love slept in with now dead ex.

A man in China has been scammed by his lover who persuaded him to “pay her ex-husband” US$14,000 to burn her old “marriage bed’” then vanished. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

275 arrested in Hong Kong over faking traffic accidents, papers to get handouts

Staged accidents include bus crash arranged by crime syndicate to collect money from government fund for victims.

Some of the ploys to defraud the fund saw suspects fake car accidents and forge medical documents. Photo: Jelly Tse

4 China KOLs ruin reputations selling fake mooncakes, illegal stocks and assaulting

Many support banning these KOLs, believing they cannot act however they please for traffic.

Hong Kong police arrest boy, 14, over collecting cash in HK$554,000 phone scam

Force says that while boy did not receive reward from scam’s masterminds, it planned to apply to court to hand out stricter penalty.

Mainland China woman crashes Hong Kong nuptials as friend, posts videos enjoying banquet

Intruder in danger of prosecution under Hong Kong law for obtaining property, such as suckling pig, by deception.

A woman from mainland China sneaked into a wedding banquet in Hong Kong posing as a friend to enjoy the banquet before posting videos of the event online. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

Hong Kong police warn that scammers posing as officers and IT staff

Police chief urges vigilance over ‘despicable scammers’, as force launches second round of raffle to raise public awareness about fraud.

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Police chief Raymond Siu at a ceremony to award raffle winners their prizes. He warned residents risked losing their life savings to scams in some cases. Photo: Edmond So

Letters | Can Hong Kong really get ahead of scammers?

Readers discuss how ubiquitous scams and fraud have become, why rule of law matters in discussions on marriage equality and help for our struggling elderly.

Thai con woman arrested for not singing Indonesia’s anthem while posing as local

Immigration issues lead authorities to uncover Thai woman on the run for committing staggering US$59 million fraud in native country.

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Hongkongers suffer more digital fraud than global peers, survey says

Gen Z users are in the crosshairs of online scammers who prowl forums and dating sites for prey, according to TransUnion.

Workers walk during lunch hour in Tsuen Wan on March 21, 2023. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong court orders HK$1.85 million recovery in first civil suit against JPEX

District Court rules platform breached its duty, ‘wrongfully’ transferred away plaintiffs’ assets to other unknown crypto wallets.

Hong Kong police install 504 CCTVs, with possible use for counterterrorism

Secretary for Security Chris Tang says he will not exclude using surveillance camera push to combat terrorism.

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Hong Kong police called to crypto store after woman scammed out of HK$93,000

Source says man tricked victim into transferring crypto in person, leaving her at shop and telling her his associate would return with cash.

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Police have listed the case as obtaining property by deception. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong police arrest 11 for allegedly conducting fraudulent MPF withdrawals

Suspects used fake documents to help more than 800 residents take out funds amounting to HK$145 million.

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Police believe the syndicate handled 837 applications for early fund withdrawals amounting to HK$145 million. Photo: Handout

Exclusive | Hong Kong ATMs to have pop-up warnings as scam losses mount to HK$6.41 billion

Police chief Raymond Siu also warns that deepfake-technology scams are likely to be the next major form of swindling to plague the city.

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59 Hongkongers fall victim to ‘naked-chat blackmail’, including 4 women

Police reveal figures on CyberDefender Facebook page, saying victims were coerced into paying more than HK$1.9 million.

Vietnam sentences death row tycoon to life imprisonment for money laundering

Truong My Lan was already convicted in April by the same Ho Chi Minh City court of fraud amounting to US$12.5 billion.

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Vietnamese real estate tycoon Truong My Lan (middle) sits in court to wait for her verdict. She was already convicted in April by the same Ho Chi Minh City court of fraud amounting to US$12.5 billion. Photo: AP

Hundreds of Chinese men arrested over online scams in Sri Lanka

Cybercrime raids also uncovered two suspects from Vietnam, as well as one each from Thailand and the Philippines.

Police officers stand guard at a checkpoint in Colombo. The biggest raid was on Saturday, when police arrested 126 Chinese men. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong gang uses deepfake tech to cheat love-struck men out of HK$360 million

Victims included men from Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, India and Singapore, police say.

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81 Hongkongers swindled out of HK$12 million in online job scams in past week

One victim duped out of more than HK$400,000 in click farming job scam after receiving WhatsApp message, police say.

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Scams and swindles
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Scams and swindles. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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