A man from the Chinese mainland was arrested on Sunday for defrauding a gambler out of HK$60,000 (61,700 patacas) in gambling chips, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Siu Keong said during a regular press conference yesterday.
Cheong identified the suspect as a 24-year-old male surnamed Li, who said he is a construction worker.
According to Cheong, the police received a report on Sunday from a middle-aged mainland man who said that he had been cheated by Li in a virtual currency purchase scam. The victim intended to use his gambling winnings to buy virtual currency and contacted Li, whom he had met earlier at a casino. Li claimed to have the means to acquire the currency at a lower price. They agreed to meet at a casino in Zape, where they struck a deal to purchase 8,108 units of a specific virtual currency for HK$60,000.
Cheong noted that Li showed the victim a screenshot of a purported virtual currency transaction. The victim believed it to be genuine and handed over HK$60,000 in chips. Upon double checking, the victim discovered that he had not received any transaction records. When Li attempted to flee the scene, the victim pursued him, drawing the attention of casino security guards who intercepted Li.
The police seized HK$60,000 in chips and a smartphone from Li. Cheong added that the victim had not received the promised virtual currency and that the screenshot shown by Li was, in fact, a modified counterfeit image.
Li has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing charges of fraud and computer forgery.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Siu Keong looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Ada Lei
