West Kowloon anti-fraud sweep arrests 116 over HK$190 million
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 5 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
West Kowloon police said a 10-day anti-fraud and anti-money-laundering operation led to 116 arrests linked to 81 deception cases involving about HK$190 million. The cases covered online shopping, investment, job and phone scams, and most of those arrested were suspected mule-account holders.
Key Points
- The operation, code-named “Fire Mark”, ran from September 14 to September 24 in West Kowloon, with arrests made across multiple districts in Hong Kong
- Police said the 116 suspects were tied to 81 fraud cases involving about HK$190 million, spanning online shopping, investment, job-search and telephone scams.
- Those arrested were aged 17 to 77 and included 66 local men, 33 local women, 13 mainland Chinese men and one mainland Chinese woman.
- The group also included one Nepalese man, one Indian woman and one Indonesian woman, and they were arrested on suspicion of obtaining property by deception and money laundering
- Police said obtaining property by deception carries a maximum 10-year jail term, while money laundering can bring up to 14 years’ imprisonment and a HK$5 million fine.
Why It Matters
The case shows how fraud networks continue to rely on bank accounts held by third parties to move suspected criminal proceeds, exposing account holders to serious criminal liability. Police said they may seek heavier sentences for mule-account holders under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and urged the public to call the 24-hour Anti-Scam Helpline 18222 if in doubt