Student, 14, arrested in HK$550,000 fraud scheme

A 14-year-old secondary school student was arrested by police for his involvement in three scams totaling over HK$550,000.

A police spokesman said on Saturday that three women reported last week falling victim to “guess who I am” scams. The three women, aged between 75 and 84, received calls from the fraudsters claiming to be lawyers for their sons, with their sons in need of money for bail in criminal proceedings.

It was said that the three had handed over HK$550,000 to the 14-year-old student, who was arranged by the fraudsters to pick up the money.

Following an investigation, officers yesterday arrested a 14-year-old non-ethnic Chinese man in Sheung Shui on charges of "obtaining property by deception."

The spokesman said the suspect, a secondary school student, claimed not having received any payment after he was instructed to collect the funds.

The force said it will look into whether the suspect is involved in more scams and track down other individuals involved and the whereabouts of the funds.