Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Un Hong announced during yesterday’s regular press conference that a local woman fell victim to a “fake police” scam, losing around 1.9 million patacas.
According to Cheong, on the morning of April 23 this year, the victim received a call while in the mainland from someone claiming to be an officer from the Pac On Immigration Department.
The caller mentioned the victim’s full name and informed her that a mobile number registered in her name in Kunming, Yunnan Province, was suspected of sending a large volume of fraudulent messages. She was instructed to cooperate with an investigation, download the “SaveX” and “Telegram” apps, rent a hotel room for a “recorded statement”, and keep the matter strictly confidential.
Cheong added that the scammer later claimed he could arrange for the victim to be released on bail pending trial, demanding a deposit of 1.6 million yuan (1.9 million patacas). The victim transferred the money in two instalments between May and June. It was not until Friday, when she returned to Macau and saw an anti-fraud public awareness video about “Mainland authority impersonation scams” at a bank, that she realised she had been deceived. She subsequently reported the case to the PJ.
Young local man targeted in porn blackmail scam
Meanwhile, Cheong also announced that a young local man fell into a pornographic trap and was blackmailed on Saturday.
On Saturday evening, while browsing a social media platform, the victim clicked a link that automatically redirected him to a Telegram chat with an unknown individual. The person claimed that by becoming a member, the young man could access adult content. Following the individual’s instructions, he downloaded a specific mobile app and granted it system permissions.
The scammer then claimed that he or she had accessed the victim’s contacts, text messages, photos, and other personal data stored on his phone, demanding a transfer of 8,000 yuan (9,625 patacas) to prevent them from forwarding them to his relatives and friends.
The victim refused to transfer any money and reported the incident directly to the police.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Cheong Un Hong looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Armindo Neves
