lifestyle · SingTao

Scoop Exposes Romance Scam Targeting Never-Dated 30-Year-Old

SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago4 MIN

Summary

TVB's news magazine program Scoop featured a cautionary tale about a 30-year-old Hong Kong man who became the target of a romance scam. Mr. Ho, who had never been in a relationship throughout his three decades of life, believed he had finally met his match when a young woman approached him in a Kowloon Bay shopping mall. Host Au Wing-kuen (區永權) humorously dubbed him "Baby Face 2.0" for his youthful appearance despite his age .

Key Points

Mr. Ho, a bespectacled man with short hair and a plump build, claims he is "tall, handsome, and has a deep voice"
A young beauty approached him in a Kowloon Bay mall asking him to fill out a questionnaire, then suggested they become friends
The woman invited him to dinner at a Mong Kok mall, where she began promoting beauty treatments for his acne
After he refused to visit the beauty center, she messaged him relentlessly through a mobile app before arranging a second date
During the second dinner, she pushed beauty services aggressively and stormed off when he delayed his decision, subsequently blocking him

Why It Matters

This case highlights how romance scams exploit vulnerable individuals, particularly those with limited dating experience. Host Yu Ho-cheng (俞可程) attempted to contact the female scammer by phone, but the number was unreachable . Consumer protection advocates warn that such beauty salon recruitment tactics represent a widespread deceptive practice that damages both financial interests and emotional wellbeing of victims across Hong Kong.