Police arrest 46-year-old fraudster posing as repair worker in Kwai Chung

A 46-year-old man was arrested in Kwai Chung on Thursday for allegedly defrauding at least 15 victims of around HK$110,000 by posing as a repair worker. The suspect, identified only by his surname, Chan, reportedly advertised renovation services online and vanished after collecting deposits.

The case came to light on April 15 when a 36-year-old man reported to the police that he had hired Chan for a water meter installation project costing HK$12,000. After discussing the project and using technical jargon, Chan convinced the victim of his expertise and collected a deposit. However, he disappeared soon after receiving the payment.

An extensive investigation led by the Kwai Chung police district revealed that Chan had been actively offering various fraudulent services on social media platforms, posing as a plumbing and electrical repair worker.

The arrest occurred when Chan was about to meet another potential victim. Police seized numerous quotations, receipts, decorating tools, and a company stamp from him. It was later discovered that Chan did not have a valid plumbing and electrical license, had not registered any company, and the company name used on the receipts and stamp was fictitious.

During his scams, Chan would often perform a minor part of the work and then request additional payments for materials, thus lowering the victims' suspicions. His fraudulent activities were uncovered when he became unreachable.

The police spokesperson noted that Chan's scams were well-crafted, involving detailed quotations and receipts to enhance his credibility. Preliminary investigations suggest that Chan's fraudulent activities spanned across Kowloon and the New Territories, with the total sum defrauded amounting to around HK$110,000 from 15 victims.

The case has been transferred to the first team of the Kwai Tsing Police District for further investigation, and police are not ruling out the possibility of additional victims.

(Prashan Limbu)