Police arrest 118 in major online scam crackdown

Police announced on Saturday that they have made 118 arrests in a sweeping operation targeting online shopping fraud, disrupting scams worth over HK$5 million. 

The two-week operation, codenamed "BLACKSWORD," specifically addressed fraudulent sales of concert tickets, electronic goods, and food products. Authorities report online scams now constitute 60 percent of all fraud cases in Hong Kong, with losses totaling HK$4.92 billion last year. 

Concert tickets emerge as prime target

The recent opening of Kai Tak Sports Arena has led to a notable increase in ticket scams, which currently account for 15% of all online shopping fraud cases. The scams typically begin on online marketplaces before moving to messaging platforms. Fraudsters convince victims to pay for nonexistent goods, particularly concert tickets and electronics. 

In some sophisticated cases, scammers have targeted sellers by sending fake payment links, with one office worker reportedly losing HK$1 million after entering banking details on a fraudulent website.

Police dismantle fraud networks

Among those arrested were 82 men and 36 women, including 93 suspected money mules who allegedly allowed their accounts to be used for laundering illicit funds. Police successfully dismantled six fraud groups responsible for 55 separate scams involving HK$570,000 in losses. Investigators discovered these operations had utilized bank accounts processing over HK$20 million in suspicious transactions.

Police data reveals women represent 60 percent of scam victims, with working professionals aged 31-40 being the most frequently targeted demographic. 

Authorities continue to warn the public through their CyberDefender website as scam tactics grow increasingly sophisticated. To combat these crimes, police emphasize purchasing tickets only through official channels and recommend using their "Scameter" verification app. 

The app has proven effective in identifying potential fraud attempts before transactions are completed.