Biggest phone scam victim is wealthy man’s widow

The 90-year-old woman who lost HK$250 million in the city’s biggest phone scam is the widow of a wealthy businessman, Eastweek reported. 

The woman surnamed Wu said in an interview that the scam left her empty pocketed and now she has to rely on her daughter.

Wu is the victim of an earlier phone scam case, in which she lost HK$250 million, marking the city’s highest record of money loss. 

Records showed that Wu lived in a house at Plunketts Road, on The Peak, which is worth about HK$200 million and occupies around 3,000 square feet. Wu’s husband bought the house in 1977 in his name and the couple lived in the house with their two daughters. 

Wu’s husband was a wealthy businessman, who was once a member of a university council and had set up scholarships. 

Wu’s husband was an active business man in the 70s and 80s. He invested in properties and had businesses in aviation and chemical engineering. His business partners included Anthony Neoh and Ann Tse-kai. 

Wu’s husband also set up companies in the UK and Australia. He passed away in early 90s and left the house to Wu. He left a fortune worth a few ten thousands as well, including shares of companies and a luxury car. 

The two daughters moved out as they grew up. Wu then lived in the house alone, and was taken care of by a driver and two maids. 

Wu said that her physical health worsened after she was cheated and coughed when talking. “I have to constantly stay in bed and I now rarely go out. I am sad and I don’t want to meet people or let anybody know about the scam.” 

Wu mentioned that she has been cheated for a few months but she didn’t tell her family. Every year she wired money to her grandchild in the U.S., except for this year. 

Wu’s daughter only found out about the incident in March. When asked if any family members blamed Wu for being cheated of the money, Wu responded that she was not in a good place to answer. 

Wu added that although the police freezed around HK$9 million in the fraudster’s bank account and she could be getting her money back, she now has to rely on her daughter as she lost all her savings.