In a statement released yesterday, the Public Security Police (PSP) confirmed that no reports have been received that would have substantiated a rumour that a foreigner is begging for money in the street and using a “dizzy mist” (迷煙) to disorientate people and coerce them into revealing their ATM passwords.
According to the statement, police officers contacted the three foreign tourists who were targeted by the rumour. The trio told the police that they had merely asked passers-by to find a restaurant that would accommodate their religious dietary habits near Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro.
Due to the language barrier, the tourists said that they could not communicate successfully, adding that they had not asked for money nor engaged in any illegal behaviour, the statement said.
The statement urged the public not to believe or spread unverified information, in order to avoid unnecessary speculation and social unrest. Anyone encountering any suspicious situations should seek assistance from the police instead of spreading rumours about them.
Previous media reports about the rumour misleadingly referred to an “ecstasy gang” that was allegedly trying to obtain passers-by ATM passwords, based on an erroneous translation from the Chinese language.
