A middle-aged local man has fallen victim to a “fake police” scam, resulting in a total loss of HK$196,900 (202,000 patacas), Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Un Hong said during a regular press conference yesterday.
According to Cheong, the police received a report on Thursday afternoon from the victim, who said that he had received a call earlier that morning from someone claiming to be a “mainland police officer.” The caller alleged that the victim’s mainland phone number was involved in fraud in the Chinese mainland and requested his cooperation for a “funds review.” Following the scammer’s instructions, the victim provided his bank account details and password while enabling screen sharing.
The victim later received a warning from the Judiciary Police and began to suspect he had been scammed. Upon checking his bank account, he discovered that a total of HK$196,900 had been transferred out in three remittances to two Hong Kong bank accounts on the same day. Realising he had been defrauded, the victim reported a total loss of HK$196,900 to the police on Thursday.
Young mainland man loses 13,041 yuan in phone purchase scam: police
A young man from the Chinese mainland has been cheated out of 13,041 yuan (14,000 patacas) in a smartphone purchase scam, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Un Hong said during a regular press conference yesterday.
According to Cheong, the victim attempted to purchase a smartphone at a shop in a shopping mall in Cotai on November 14. While several customers were queuing, a man approached him and claimed he could assist with the purchase, but requested that the victim make a payment in advance. Not wanting to wait, the victim transferred 22,041 yuan via the Alipay QR code provided by the man. They then exchanged WeChat details for further communication.
After the transaction, the victim repeatedly asked about the purchase through WeChat, but the scammer claimed that the phone was not yet available. When the victim requested a refund, the scammer only returned 9,000 yuan and then ceased all communication.
Suspecting he had been scammed, the victim reported a loss of 13,041 yuan to the police on Thursday.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Un Hong looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Ada Lei
