Hong Kong landlord loses HK$10 million in crypto scam
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
A 64-year-old Hong Kong retiree who owned multiple residential, commercial and parking properties lost about HK$10 million after a scammer approached her as a potential tenant and later persuaded her to buy cryptocurrency. Police said the fraud began in May after the woman posted a rental advertisement on Facebook and was contacted through WhatsApp
Key Points
- Police said the victim was a 64-year-old retiree with several properties, including residential, commercial units and parking spaces in Hong Kong
- The scammer first contacted her on WhatsApp in May, responding to a rental listing she had posted on Facebook
- Although no tenancy agreement was signed, the fraudster built a friendship and promoted cryptocurrency as the next chance to get rich
- The victim was guided to set up a crypto wallet, but was tricked into disclosing wallet details and her password
- She spent about HK$10 million on cryptocurrencies, which the scammer later transferred out, leaving the wallet empty
Why It Matters
The case shows how rental inquiries on social media can be turned into investment fraud, especially when scammers shift from property discussions to personal trust-building and promises of high returns. Police are urging the public not to share cryptocurrency wallet credentials and to stay alert when online conversations move toward transactions, friendship-building or so-called expert investment advice