Hong Kong teen loses HK$640,000 in fake immigration scam
SingTao · 3 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
An 18-year-old man reported a suspected phone scam at a youth hostel on Shing Fung Road in Kai Tak at 12:55pm on November 2. He told police that he had earlier received a call from someone claiming to be an Immigration Department officer. The caller accused him of sending false messages and demanded bank transfers as proof of innocence. The victim said he made multiple transfers totaling HK$640,000 before the suspect became unreachable, after which he contacted police.
Key Points
- The case was reported from a youth hostel at 1331 Shing Fung Road, Kai Tak, at 12:55pm on November 2.
- The complainant was an 18-year-old man who said the scam began with a phone call received earlier.
- The caller allegedly claimed to be an officer of Hong Kong's Immigration Department and accused the victim of sending false messages.
- To prove he was innocent, the victim said he transferred money in several payments to an account designated by the caller.
- The total loss was HK$640,000, and police classified the case as obtaining property by deception, or fraud, for investigation.
Why It Matters
The case shows how impersonation scams can pressure even very young victims into making large transfers by invoking law-enforcement authority and alleged legal trouble. For Hong Kong readers, the practical consequence is that any demand to transfer money to “prove innocence” should be treated as a major warning sign and checked independently before any payment is made.