Camy Tam
Two female victims separately told the Judiciary Police late last month that they had been cheated out of HK$144,000 and 60,000 yuan (74,400 patacas) respectively in a phone scam in which the callers claimed to be officials from the Health Bureau (SSM), Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chong Kam Leong said at a press conference on Wednesday.
According to Chong, a 65-year-old Hong Kong woman reported to the police last Thursday that she received a call on her smartphone in which the caller, who claimed to be a Macau Health Bureau official, told her that the COVID-19 vaccine she bought online had been confiscated for investigation in the mainland.
Afterwards, a caller who claimed to be an officer from the Public Security Bureau (PSB) in Shanghai told her to transfer HK$1.58 million to a designated bank account for verification purposes. However, the victim did not have enough money and “only” transferred HK$144,000. After the victim discussed this matter with her family, she realised that she had been defrauded and reported the case to the police.
Meanwhile, a female student from the mainland who is studying at a local university reported to the police on Sunday that she received a phone call from a man, who claimed to be a Macau Health Bureau official, telling her that the COVID-19 vaccine she purchased online had been confiscated. She told the caller that she had never purchased any vaccines. The “official” claimed that her ID information might have been stolen by someone. Afterwards, the same call was transferred to a “police officer” in Shanghai who asked her to provide him with her personal data as well as bank account information. He told her to transfer “all her money” to a designated bank account for verification, promising that the money would be returned to her later on. The victim then transferred 60,000 yuan but later suspected that she may have been defrauded and decided to report the case to the police.
Chong urged residents to stay vigilant about recorded voice calls or calls from purported government officials, adding that no government officials anywhere in the world would just call someone to request a money transfer. He urged residents receiving a suspicious call to contact the police’s anti-scam hotline 8800 7777 right away.
