Two Arrested in Fake Officials Scam Worth HK$10 Million
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong police said they have broken up a fake-officials fraud operation and arrested two local suspects allegedly tied to eight deception cases involving more than HK$10 million.
Investigators said victims first received cold calls from scammers posing as mainland public security officers, who accused them of crimes such as money laundering and demanded cooperation.
The callers then arranged in-person meetings with two accomplices posing as “assistant police investigators”, who wore suits and delivered forged confidentiality agreements to make the story appear credible.
Police said the suspects were arrested on August 19 after officers in Eastern District reviewed extensive CCTV footage, and one of the cases involved a loss of about HK$9 million.
Key Points
- Senior Inspector Leung King-man of Eastern District Regional Crime Unit Team 2 said police first received a report of the fake-officials phone scam in early July 2026.
- After tracing CCTV footage, officers identified a 48-year-old private driver and a 21-year-old student, both local residents, and arrested them for obtaining property by deception.
- Police later linked the pair to seven additional similar cases that took place between May and August 2026.
- The seven additional victims were aged between 22 and 72, and the total losses across all eight cases exceeded HK$10 million.
- Police said the two arrested suspects did not know each other, were allegedly acting under instructions, and met victims in public places to collect transfers or cash.
Why It Matters
The case shows how phone fraud in Hong Kong is evolving beyond anonymous calls into face-to-face encounters designed to make scams look official and urgent.
Police also warned that fraudsters may try to draw victims into supposed “missions” or “operations”, and anyone who knowingly assists scammers can also face criminal liability.
Residents are being reminded that neither mainland nor Hong Kong law enforcement will ask for bank transfers, cash handovers or account passwords, and suspicious calls can be checked through the Anti-Scam Helpline 18222 or Scameter+.