Macau Youth Loses Over HK$100,000 in Transfer Scam
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A young Macau man has reported losing RMB91,000, equivalent to about HK$105,560, in an alleged online investment scam built around promises that simple money transfers could generate profits. He told investigators he met an online contact on a social platform in the early hours of August 2, then moved the conversation to a messaging app and joined a group where members promoted the scheme. After receiving small gains on his first two transfers, he increased the amount, only to be told his account had been frozen because of an operational error and that more payments were needed. He only realized he had been cheated after discussing the matter with family members and then filed a report with local law enforcement
Key Points
- The victim said he met an online acquaintance at about 4am on August 2 through a social platform before switching to a messaging app
- He was added to a group chat where members claimed he could make money by transferring funds as a form of investment
- His first two transfers were RMB100 and RMB500, and he received RMB150 and RMB560 back, earning RMB110 in total
- After he sent RMB1,000 in a third round, he could not recover the money and was told his account was frozen
- The scammers kept demanding more payments to “unfreeze” the account, and his total reported loss eventually reached RMB91,000
Why It Matters
The case shows how fraudsters can use small early payouts to build trust and persuade victims to commit much larger sums later. For Hong Kong readers, the pattern is familiar because scams that begin on social platforms and move to private messaging apps can cross borders easily and target Cantonese-speaking users in nearby cities