Police warn of online hairy crab shopping scams
AM730 · 3 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong police said more than 500 online shopping scam reports were recorded in the first half of October, and some recent cases involved the seasonal sale of hairy crabs. In those cases, victims typically lost a few hundred Hong Kong dollars each, with total losses of about HK$10,000. Police said fraudsters set up fake shop pages on platforms including Facebook and Instagram, used discounts or unusually low prices to attract buyers, then disappeared after receiving payment into personal bank accounts.
Key Points
- Police said the first half of October brought more than 500 online shopping scam reports, with hairy crab-related cases emerging in recent days.
- Reported losses in each hairy crab case were about a few hundred Hong Kong dollars, adding up to roughly HK$10,000 overall.
- Fraudsters allegedly opened fake online store pages on Facebook and Instagram and advertised discounted hairy crabs to draw in buyers.
- After a buyer showed interest, the scammer provided a payment account, often a personal-name account, and requested advance transfer.
- Police urged consumers to check page creation dates, follower patterns, contact details, and use the Scameter app to assess risk.
Why It Matters
Seasonal food buying surges can create openings for low-value, high-volume fraud that is easy to overlook until losses accumulate. For Hong Kong consumers, the police advice points to simple checks before payment, especially when a seller pushes fast transfers to a personal account.