A local woman has been defrauded out of 6.7 million patacas after trusting her online “boyfriend” and investing in cryptocurrencies on his advice, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chan Wun Man said during a regular press conference yesterday.
Chan said that the victim claimed to be jobless and is a divorcee.
According to Chan, the victim met a male on a social media platform last December. In early February, the man successfully persuaded the victim to invest in “cryptocurrencies” in an online platform, Chan said, adding that the victim bought “cryptocurrencies” worth a total of HK$30,000 initially and received a considerable profit which she was able to withdraw.
Chan said that later on the “boyfriend/Singapore trader” requested she invest in the platform’s event with him so that the money could be used to buy a flat when they married. Believing him, the victim transferred a total of 6.7 million patacas to a Hong Kong bank account.
After the transaction, the scammer soon claimed that his own account was frozen and requested the victim transfer more money to help him unfreeze his account. Finally realising that she had been scammed, the victim reported the case to the police.
Chan added that a local woman in her twenties also was fleeced in a love scam last month which involved paying multiple “handling fees” for an “expensive parcel” sent to her from an American Chinese virtual boyfriend. She reported losing 120,000 patacas.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chan Wun Man looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference.
– Photo: William Chan
