Hong Kong man arrested in Macau in connection with atleast four online loan scams

A Hong Kong man posing as a cleaner was arrested at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge checkpoint on Thursday for allegedly running an online loan scam that defrauded at least four victims of nearly 394,000 yuan and 11,400 MOP.

Macau Judiciary Police identified the 65-year-old man surnamed Wong as the holder of mainland payment accounts used in at least four loan scam cases.

The investigation began after a middle-aged man reported being tricked via a Facebook “Hong Kong-Macau loan” ad. 

He transferred 292,000 yuan and 5,200 MOP in 25 payments for “deposit” and “fees,” but received no loan.

Further probes linked Wong’s accounts to two other cases with losses of 82,500 yuan and 19,000 yuan last year and revealed he helped convert scam proceeds.

Police seized HK$64,000 in cash and a phone from him. 

He faces charges of large-scale fraud and money laundering and has been handed over to prosecutors for further investigation into possible criminal syndicate involvement.