Five arrested in $2.19m bail scam targeting elderly victims

Police dismantled a local fraud ring that preyed on seniors by posing as desperate relatives needing bail money, arresting four men and a 16-year-old girl linked to 10 cases totaling HK$2.19 million across Hong Kong.

The operation unfolded over recent days, with officers rounding up the suspects—three local men, one mainland man, and one local teenage girl, all aged between 16 and 34—on suspicion of obtaining property by deception.

The group allegedly phoned elderly residents, claiming to be a son or daughter caught in a criminal case and urgently requiring cash for release. 

A second accomplice then arrived, pretending to be a family friend sent to collect the “bail” payment in person.

Victims only realized the ruse after handing over the money and later contacting their actual relatives. 

The 10 incidents, spanning September to November and scattered across multiple districts, netted the scammers roughly HK$2.19 million combined. 

During the raids, police seized several mobile phones and clothing worn by the suspects during the cons.

All five remain in custody as the investigation continues.