Student Arrested in Fake Official Scam Over HK$3 Million
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Police have arrested a 19-year-old local university student on suspicion of obtaining property by deception after she allegedly acted as a bogus “investigator” in a fake official scam targeting a 24-year-old man. The victim was allegedly manipulated into transferring more than HK$3 million after being told his phone number was tied to a mainland Chinese money-laundering case and that he had to cooperate in secret
Key Points
- The 24-year-old man reported the case last week after receiving a call from someone claiming to be a telecom employee, before the line was transferred to fraudsters posing as mainland public security officers
- The scammers allegedly ordered him not to reveal his movements, told him to stay in a hotel in Tseung Kwan O, and said a “special investigator” would meet him later
- Outside the hotel, a woman claiming to be an investigator showed documents bearing fake mainland police stamps and persuaded him to sign papers linked to the supposed probe
- The syndicate then allegedly instructed the victim to transfer more than HK$3 million to a designated bank account for “investigation purposes”; the money reportedly included family savings and part bank loans
- After reviewing CCTV footage and intelligence, police arrested the 19-year-old woman surnamed Ngan in Sheung Wan on Tuesday, August 11, and seized a fake law-enforcement ID, a suspected printer for forged documents, and clothing worn during the offence
Why It Matters
Police said neither Hong Kong nor mainland law-enforcement officers would ask members of the public to transfer money, pay deposits, sign secrecy agreements, or disclose online banking passwords. The case also shows that young, well-educated people can be both victims and tools of fraud syndicates, widening the pool of risk in Hong Kong