YouTuber given community service order for unfair trade practices over dating-skills courses

A self-claimed relationship expert was sentenced to 160 hours of community service on Thursday after being found guilty of violating the Trade Descriptions Ordinance by charging two men a total of HK$540,000 in teaching them dating techniques.

The 33-year-old defendant Chau Pak-yin, also known as "Professor Devil", set up a YouTube channel and Patreon to offer tips to single men on how to flirt and date women.

He was charged with tricking two of his clients from January 26 to February 15 last year by asking them to pay more than the course fees.

After accepting their course fees of HK$38,200 and HK$76,000, respectively, Chau asked for another set of HK$100,000 and HK$330,000 fees to help them buy accessories and clothing for their image change, with one of them even being forced to send an Omega watch to Chau as a gift.

Chau refused to teach the duo until they paid the additional fees. He was later charged with two counts of "engaging in a commercial practice that is a misleading omission."

During the hearing at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today, the prosecution also requested a court order for Chau to pay compensation and confiscate the mobile phone and tablet computer seized from him.

However, the magistrate, Philip Chan Chee-fai, decided against imposing a compensation order and confiscating the items and suggested the victims file a civil lawsuit if they wished to pursue compensation.