Five "Anti-Deception Routes” to run for three months on Hong Kong Island

The police force announced on Thursday that their “Anti-Deception Minibus” will begin operating on five routes around Hong Kong Island to disseminate information about scams.

The five minibus routes announced are routes 48M, 30, 56A, 1 and 4C. These minibuses will feature exteriors decorated with anti-fraud information and images of regional characteristic buildings such as The Peak Tower.

Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee, who attended the launching ceremony, stated that the minibuses will traverse popular routes in Hong Kong, passing through hospitals, universities, and residential and commercial areas. He expressed hope that this initiative will enhance citizens' awareness of fraud prevention.

Siu highlighted that impersonation of customer services is increasingly prevalent in phone scams, while investment scams have shown a slight decline in the first seven months of this year. However, he urged citizens to remain vigilant. He added that the police will intensify collaboration with the banking industry to further promote fraud prevention efforts.

Siu explained that fraud syndicates are often patient and wait long periods to achieve substantial returns. He remarked, “If the fraudsters had a method to make a large amount of money quickly, they wouldn’t need to contact you; they would already be wealthy.”

The police chief urged the public to be more rational and avoid being enticed by the prospect of small gains that could lead to significant losses. He reminded everyone that there are no legitimate shortcuts to achieving quick and substantial wealth.