Police arrest 17 in HK$4.67 million phone scam
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong police said they arrested 17 people in a crackdown on a cross-border phone scam syndicate that allegedly used Malaysian nationals as cash couriers to collect money from elderly victims in Hong Kong.
The scam involved callers falsely telling elderly targets that their children had been arrested and demanding “bail payments,” while three Mong Kok premises allegedly processed about HK$4.67 million in proceeds between June 4 and August 14.
Key Points
- Police said the syndicate recruited Malaysian nationals through Telegram and other social media, offering free flights, accommodation, and daily allowances of HK$500 to HK$1,000.
- Authorities believe the group used non-local couriers posing as tourists so tracking and law-enforcement action would be harder after suspects left Hong Kong.
- Over the past two months, police arrested 12 Malaysian nationals allegedly working as couriers before targeting three key Mong Kok premises linked to the operation.
- The three premises included a cryptocurrency exchange shop, a currency exchange shop used as a transit point, and another currency exchange used to store cash.
- In an operation last Friday, officers intercepted a courier delivering scam money and later arrested a shop manager who was trying to deposit the cash at a bank.
Why It Matters
Police records show 22 elderly victims filed reports, with the largest single case involving a substantial loss, underscoring the continuing vulnerability of older residents to deception-based phone scams.
The seizure of HK$3.67 million and the arrests at exchange-related premises indicate police are focusing not only on couriers but also on the local handling points for scam proceeds.