A senior Judiciary Police (PJ) officer said during yesterday’s Macau Forum that the police have received more than 1,200 reported phone scam cases and enquiries about phone scams from residents between July 20 and Saturday, adding that it was difficult for the local police to solve such cases as phone scam fraudsters are primarily operating outside Macau.
The weekly open-air debate is hosted by government-owned broadcaster TDM in Areia Preta Park every Sunday.
Yesterday’s focus of the forum was on what measures the government can take against phone scams.
Guest speaker Chan Cho Man, who heads the Economic Crimes Division of the Judiciary Police, pointed out that phone scam cases have been reported “frequently” since early this year. He said that the first wave of phone scams occurred in March and April, when 21 cases – in which victims lost the equivalent of 25 million patacas – were reported.
Guest speakers and audience members attend TDM’s Macau Forum in Areia Preta Park yesterday. Photo: Tony Wong
