Police dismantle two major phone scams, arresting five

Police announced on Friday that they have successfully dismantled two phone scam operations—a "Guess Who I Am" fraud targeting the elderly and a fake mainland official scheme—arresting five suspects and preventing further financial losses.

After months of intelligence gathering and investigation, West Kowloon police identified a fraud ring specializing in the "Guess Who I Am" scam, which primarily targets elderly victims.

Yesterday (May 15), officers intercepted the suspects as they collected HK$50,000 from a 90-year-old woman in Wong Tai Sin. Police recovered the cash and immediately contacted the victim, preventing any financial harm.

Authorities arrested a 28-year-old unemployed man, surnamed Sit, believed to be a core member of the syndicate, along with two 14-year-old boys. A 32-year-old man was detained earlier in the operation, bringing the total arrests to four.

Investigations revealed the group was linked to five other cases, with victims aged between 72 and 97 suffering total losses of HK$480,000. All suspects remain in custody.

In a separate case, a 45-year-old local woman was targeted in an elaborate "fake mainland official" scam.

The victim received a call on Tuesday (May 13) from a fraudster posing as a mainland law enforcement officer, who accused her of economic crimes and instructed her to cooperate secretly. Over the next two days, the scammer intensified pressure, claiming there was "irrefutable evidence" against her.

The fraudster directed the woman to meet a "special investigator" in Yau Ma Tei to sign a "confidentiality agreement." Growing suspicious, she contacted the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC), prompting police intervention.

Officers set up an operation near Public Square Street and arrested a 28-year-old unemployed woman, surnamed Yau, as she presented a fake mainland law enforcement ID and pressured the victim to sign documents with a thumbprint. Police seized the forged documents, a red ink pad, and the counterfeit ID.

Yau has been charged with "attempting to obtain property by deception" and will appear at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (May 17).