HK unis step up anti-scam measures as student scams spike

To combat a significant rise in scams targeting mainland students, universities across Hong Kong are implementing a range of measures, including mandatory anti-scam questionnaires and seminars, to heighten student awareness.

This heightened focus follows a report from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) revealing that over 60 students fell victim to scams last year, resulting in collective losses exceeding HK$60 million.

Reports indicate that most victims were first-year students from mainland China, primarily targeted between September and October—the beginning of the academic year. Some postgraduate students also received phone calls from fraudsters posing as mainland officials who falsely accused them of being involved in criminal activities.

In a particularly alarming case, one student was lured to a hotel in Thailand by scammers impersonating officials. The fraudsters then attempted to convince her parents she had been kidnapped. Fortunately, the family realized it was a scam before paying a ransom of HK$9 million.

As the new academic year approaches, HKU will require all incoming students to complete an anti-scam questionnaire and pass a police-designed "Anti-Scam Online Learning Package" to gain access to essential campus facilities like the library and learning spaces. The university has also arranged online seminars for both students and parents to raise awareness.

The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) has tailored a specific questionnaire for non-local students, which must be completed before they can obtain their student ID cards. 

Additionally, all new undergraduates, both local and non-local, are required to complete a police questionnaire to receive their physical student IDs. Furthermore, all EdUHK students must complete a designated anti-fraud questionnaire at the start of each school year to maintain access to the library and sports facilities.

Several institutions are collaborating closely with police to promote anti-deception messages.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), for instance, requires students to complete the police online course and has established 15 WeChat groups to keep non-local students informed about scam alerts.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) mandates that all mainland students and their parents attend pre-enrollment fraud prevention sessions. These feature insights from police, customs officials, and local banks on common scams.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has set up a "Hong Kong Drifters’ Report Room" to provide immediate support for students facing fraudulent schemes.

Lingnan University (LingU) reports a more than 50 percent year-on-year decrease in financial losses from fraud, a success it attributes to its proactive measures. The university will require all new students to complete the “Anti-Scam Online Learning Package” in the upcoming academic year.

To ramp up the visibility of anti-scam messages, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has placed informative posters in every student dorm room, on campus bulletin boards, and in dining areas.

The City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) has announced a partnership with local telecom providers to offer students reliable phone and data plans, an initiative aimed at blocking suspicious calls from the outset.

Additionally, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) will prompt new students to complete an online learning module when they access the university intranet and will encourage them to stay informed through regular news updates.

Lawmaker Lau Chi-pang, who is also an associate vice president of LingU, expressed his support for these initiatives.

He noted that requiring students to complete questionnaires is an effective way to ensure they receive critical anti-fraud information. Lau believes these measures can help prevent students from falling victim to scams and encourage them to seek the school’s assistance when necessary.