Yuen Long police arrest suspected loan scammer
SingTao · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Police in Yuen Long have arrested a man on suspicion of obtaining property by deception after a string of alleged small-sum scams in Kam Tin. According to police, the suspect repeatedly approached residents with claims that a family member was ill and urgently needed money, then disappeared after receiving cash. The latest reported incident happened in the early hours of October 9, when he allegedly borrowed money from a taxi driver and fled. The arrest was made on October 15 after an investigation by the Pat Heung Division rural patrol team under Yuen Long district police.
Key Points
- Police said the man had been active in the Kam Tin area of Yuen Long, using a sick-family-member story to win sympathy and obtain cash.
- The suspect allegedly repeated the tactic in the early morning of October 9, borrowing money from a taxi driver before disappearing.
- Officers launched an in-depth investigation, identified a target, and arrested the man on October 15 on suspicion of obtaining property by deception.
- Sing Tao reported that multiple villagers had fallen victim, with online posts saying a similar “borrow money” scam had already appeared in Kam Tin last year
- Police urged the public to stay alert when strangers ask for money under various pretexts and not to hand over cash lightly.
Why It Matters
The case is a reminder that low-value, face-to-face deception can persist in rural and village areas where appeals to sympathy may be especially effective. For Hong Kong residents, the practical consequence is that even seemingly urgent requests involving illness or transport should be verified before any money changes hands.