Loan shark ring filed false emergency calls to harass debtors, 28 arrested

Police arrested 28 people linked to a loan shark and unlicensed money-lending syndicate that allegedly made false emergency reports to harass debtors and sent minors — including a 14-year-old — to splash red paint on homes to pressure victims to repay.

Officers said the group called the 999 emergency center in the early hours and falsely reported incidents such as attempted suicide and violent crimes at debtors’ addresses, causing police and rescue personnel to respond. The calls were intended to intimidate borrowers and their families.

The investigation began in late November after police received two attempted suicide reports and one violent crime report involving the same flat in the New Territories South region. Officers found no such incidents on arrival and could not reach the caller. Follow-up inquiries showed the resident had outstanding loan shark debts and had received threats and vandalism.

Police said the syndicate recruited students through social media with offers of quick cash. Three minors who did not know each other were allegedly assigned to carry out red-paint vandalism. The youngest arrested is aged 14.

The group was linked to at least 50 criminal cases and at least 16 false emergency reports between August 2025 and January 2026 that were related to debt collection, officers said.

During an operation over the past two weeks, police arrested 28 men and women aged between 14 and 68, including key members, mule account holders and other operatives. Some have suspected triad backgrounds. Suspected offenses include unlicensed money lending, charging excessive interest, wasting police time, criminal damage, criminal intimidation and money laundering.

Police said the syndicate controlled eight mule bank accounts and handled nearly HK$29 million in suspected crime proceeds between 2024 and 2025. Investigations are continuing.

Authorities warned that filing false reports is an offense punishable by up to six months in jail and urged the public not to borrow from loan sharks or lend bank accounts to others for money transfers.