Police arrest man over fake animal charity flag-day scam
HK01 · 8 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Police on Sunday arrested a 22-year-old local man surnamed Lau on suspicion of obtaining property by deception over an alleged fake street fundraising operation that impersonated the Hong Kong Saving Cats and Dogs Association Ltd during its approved flag day in Kowloon on Saturday. The case surfaced after association staff or volunteers reported suspected impostors collecting donations in Mong Kok, where officers later found 14 people holding forged collection bags. Investigators believe those 14 had responded to a temporary job advertisement in a WhatsApp group offering HK$70 an hour to “sell flags” from 6.30am to 12.30pm, without checking whether the organiser was genuine. The association separately warned the public that its authentic donation bags were dark blue, while suspected fake bags seen on the street were lighter in colour and carried mismatched animal-welfare wording.
Key Points
- Police said the 22-year-old local man was arrested on September 6 for allegedly obtaining property by deception, and the Mong Kok district crime unit is investigating.
- The report was made at about 8.36am on September 5 after association staff found suspected fake collectors near Portland Street and Langham Place in Mong Kok.
- Officers later found 14 people carrying forged collection bags; sources said they had been recruited through a WhatsApp job group at HK$70 an hour.
- The workers were allegedly told to collect donations from 6.30am to 12.30pm, then return the bags around noon or 12.30pm on Nelson Street.
- Social Welfare Department records showed only three groups were authorised that day: Methodist Centre on Hong Kong Island, the animal charity in Kowloon, and Asbury Methodist Social Service in the New Territories.
Why It Matters
District flag days rely on quick public recognition of approved charities, so imitation bags and permits can divert donations before passers-by realise anything is wrong. The case also suggests some people on the street may themselves have been lured in through a suspected job scam, complicating enforcement and public trust in legitimate fundraising.