Hong Kong woman loses HK$2.7 million in scam
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A 66-year-old woman in Sau Mau Ping reported to Hong Kong police that she had lost HK$2.7 million in a phone scam after a caller accused her bank account of being involved in money laundering. The caller allegedly said the account she had used to buy insurance online was under suspicion and told her to transfer money for an investigation. The woman sent HK$2 million first and then another HK$700,000 into two bank accounts specified by the scammer before realising she might have been defrauded. Police have classified the case as deception, and no arrests had been made as of Saturday.
Key Points
- Police said the 66-year-old victim, who lives in Sau Mau Ping, contacted the force at about 5am on Saturday to report the suspected fraud.
- The woman told officers she had received the scam call earlier in October from a person police believe was a fraudster.
- The caller alleged that the victim's bank account, used for buying insurance online, had been involved in money laundering activities.
- Following the caller's instructions, she transferred HK$2 million first, then a further HK$700,000, into two designated bank accounts.
- After becoming suspicious that she had been cheated, the woman reported the matter to police, who opened a deception case.
Why It Matters
The case shows how fraudsters can use accusations of serious financial crime to pressure victims into moving large sums quickly. For Hong Kong residents, it is a reminder that claims about investigations into bank accounts should be verified independently before any transfer is made.