In a significant crackdown on fraud and sexual exploitation, Hong Kong police arrested two individuals on August 31, 2024, for allegedly tricking a woman into having sex under the pretense of changing her luck. The male suspect, a 30-year-old, posed as a tarot card reader, while the female accomplice, aged 25, managed an Instagram account for fortune-telling. The victim reported that after the encounter at her home in Ngau Tau Kok, she was lured to a commercial flat in Kwun Tong, where she was defrauded of HK$300,000 (approximately US$38,500) in cash and HK$100,000 in credit card coupons for fake investments. During the arrests, police discovered HK$20,000 in suspected crime proceeds and various fortune-telling tools. The investigation is ongoing, and no additional victims have been reported yet. [7aedc515]
This incident highlights the alarming rise in various forms of scams in Hong Kong, including online fraud and sexual exploitation. Just days earlier, on August 24, 2024, police arrested 11 individuals linked to a major phone scam that defrauded victims of HK$61 million (US$7.8 million). This gang operated from multiple bases in Hong Kong and was responsible for over 400 scams, impersonating customer service staff to deceive victims. The suspects, aged between 20 and 67, face serious charges, and police seized numerous devices and prepaid phone cards during the operation. [a21b123d]
The increase in deception cases is alarming, with a reported 42.6% rise in 2023 compared to the previous year, leading to losses of HK$9.1 billion. Scammers have employed various tactics, including impersonating recyclers and creating fake WhatsApp login pages. To combat this, the police have developed tools like the 'Scameter' search engine and mobile app to help the public identify suspicious schemes. [51989133]
Additionally, online job scams have surged, particularly targeting students. In May 2024, 348 Hongkongers, including 50 students, fell victim to fake job ads, reflecting a 60% increase from the previous month. From January to March 2024, there were 553 reports of online job scams, resulting in financial losses of HK$154 million (US$19.7 million). Lawmaker Johnny Ng Kit-chong has urged students to be cautious of job listings promising high salaries with minimal experience. [f17851ad]
The police have also reported a significant rise in online fraud reports, with 13,097 cases handled between January and May 2024, marking an increase of 113 cases compared to the same period in 2023. The amount lost in online scams rose by 37% to HK$2.2 billion. Notably, two separate deepfake scams using AI technology resulted in losses of HK$204 million for two UK-based multinational firms. [0f056f1e]
In light of these developments, Hong Kong police have issued warnings about a fake website impersonating their official site, designed to scam users into revealing personal information. The public is urged to report any suspicious activity and remain vigilant against the increasing threat of scams and fraud in the region. [d974d4bb]