Two female university students from the mainland have both fallen victim to “fake police” scams, losing a total of HK$2.38 million (2.45 million patacas), Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chong Kam Leong said during a regular press conference yesterday.
According to Chong, the police received a report on Friday from a mainland student studying in Macau who had received a call in March from someone who claimed that her mainland mobile number was involved in multiple fraud cases and requested her cooperation in the investigation.
Following the caller’s instructions, the victim downloaded a video conferencing software to engage in “remote case handling” with a “mainland law enforcement officer” who demanded payment for a “fund review” and a “bail deposit.” Between March and September, the student transferred about two million yuan (2.25 million patacas) to several designated accounts. In mid-September, after losing contact with the fraudster and returning to the Chinese mainland to make enquiries, she finally realised she had been deceived and reported a total loss of two million yuan to the police on Friday.
Chong added that during an anti-fraud seminar conducted by PJ criminal investigators at a university campus on Wednesday, another mainland student studying in Macau reported that she had received a call in August from someone posing as a “mainland law enforcement officer.” The caller accused her of being involved in money laundering activities and demanded a “bail payment” of one million yuan. Due to limited funds, the victim transferred HK$382,700 to a designated Hong Kong bank account instead. After attending the anti-fraud seminar, she finally realised she had been scammed and reported a total loss of HK$382,700 to the police.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chong Kam Leong looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Ada Lei
