Kwun Tong woman loses HK$2.7 million in phone scam
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 66-year-old woman living at On Kay Court in Ngau Tau Kok reported to police at 4:58am on Saturday, October 31, after she suspected she had fallen victim to a phone scam involving a fake insurance-related money-laundering claim. Police said she had transferred a total of HK$2.7 million into bank accounts designated by the fraudster after receiving the call on Wednesday, October 28.
Key Points
- The victim, surnamed Chung, was identified as a 66-year-old woman who made the report from a flat at On Kay Court, 20 Chun Wah Road, Ngau Tau Kok.
- She received a call on Wednesday, October 28, from a man who said she had bought insurance online and that her account was involved in money laundering.
- The caller told her to transfer money to specified bank accounts for what he described as an investigation or related arrangements.
- She transferred HK$2 million and then HK$700,000 on October 28 and 29, bringing her total loss to HK$2.7 million.
- After becoming worried and suspecting deception, she sought police help in the early hours of October 31; the case was classified as obtaining property by deception, with no arrests yet.
Why It Matters
The case shows how fraudsters continue to use financial-crime accusations tied to insurance products to pressure victims into moving large sums quickly. Police have not made any arrests, and the reports also note that insurance-related scams have taken multiple forms in recent years, including impersonation calls and phishing messages.