Teen Arrested Over HK$410,000 Elderly Bail Scam
SingTao · 4 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Police in Kwun Tong have arrested a 17-year-old unemployed local male in connection with two “guess who I am” phone scams in which elderly victims were tricked into paying supposed bail money. The two cases, reported in July, involved victims aged 74 and 89 who together lost HK$410,000 after fraudsters posed as relatives or friends and arranged cash handovers near Lei Yue Mun.
Key Points
- Kwun Tong police said the scams were reported in July 2026 and followed a similar script targeting elderly people by phone.
- Callers randomly contacted older residents, claimed to be relatives or friends detained in a criminal case, and demanded urgent cash for “bail”.
- The fraudsters then posed as a friend of the supposed relative, arranging to collect the money in person near Lei Yue Mun, Kwun Tong.
- The two victims, aged 74 and 89, later reached their real family members, realised they had been deceived, and reported the cases to police.
- After reviewing extensive CCTV footage, including material under the Sharp Eye Scheme, officers arrested the suspect on September 24 in Sham Shui Po on suspicion of obtaining property by deception.
Why It Matters
The case shows that “guess who I am” scams continue to target older Hong Kong residents through emotional pressure and urgent demands for cash. Police said the offence of obtaining property by deception carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and urged the public to verify any emergency money request with relatives directly or call the Anti-Scam Helpline 18222 if in doubt.