Twenty-five arrested in HK$13m anti-scam operations

Twenty-five people were arrested as police busted 20 scams in which the suspects defrauded victims out of HK$13 million, including one case that saw the highest loss at over HK$5.5 million. 

The arrestees included 20 men and two women aged 19 to 59, with two non-Chinese residents holding Hong Kong identity cards. They were arrested for obtaining property by deception, evasion of liability by deception, conspiracy to defraud, and money laundering. 

They were reportedly jobless, servers, chefs, and customer service officers. 

Detective inspector Chong Tak-him from Yau Tsim police district said police received reports from five victims aged 75 to 90 in mid-May. They received calls from fraudsters claiming to be their sons or relatives who said they were deeply indebted or arrested by police and desperately needed cash. 

The elderly believed in the fraudsters and handed over the cash to a male and a female fraudster near their homes. The elderly later talked to their families and learned they had been cheated. 

They lost about HK$688,000 altogether, and one saw the highest loss of HK$268,000. 

After an in-depth investigation, police targeted and arrested a 22-year-old woman Chan in Ho Man Tin on May 29 and a 21-year-old man Tong in Tuen Mun on June 15. 

Police further located and arrested a 23-year-old man also named Chan, who collected the crime proceeds from the duo in Tuen Mun on Friday night. 

Police also mounted a series of anti-scam operations from Monday to Friday and arrested 22 others. The 23-year-old man was remanded in custody while the others were released on bail. They must report to the police in mid and late July, respectively. 

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