Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chan Wun Man said during a regular press conference yesterday that a woman from the mainland has been arrested for her involvement in a “practice banknote” deception case, scamming the victim out 132,000 yuan (145,000 patacas) in online bank transfers.
The suspect is a 28-year-old surnamed Shao.
According to Chan, Shao struck a deal with a male mainlander on Tuesday in a Cotai hotel room, according to which he was to transfer 132,000 yuan to Shao, while Shao was to hand HK$140,000 in cash to the victim in return. After the victim transferred the yuan to Shao through online banking, she handed the victim three stacks of banknotes.
The victim immediately discovered that they were actually HK$1,000 practice banknotes and reported the case to the police. Shao was arrested in the hotel room soon after.
Under questioning, she claimed that she had been hired by “someone” from the mainland to carry out the swindle in Macau and was promised a “commission” of HK$3,000 if she had successfully completed the transaction.
Shao has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing a fraud charge, Chan said.
This undated handout photo provided by the Judiciary Police (PJ) yesterday shows the practice notes and two mobile phones.
