Criminal gangs 'switching to more profitable cyber scams'

Staff reporter

Criminal gangs involved in traditional firearms and drug trades in Southeast Asian countries are now engaged in cybercrimes targeting China, where social media and online payments are widely used, says local criminologist Dennis Wong Sing-wing.

Wong made the comments after a government task force set out to help rescue a group of Hongkongers forced to engage in illegal work in Myanmar.

Wong, a criminology professor at City University, told The Standard that the development of information and communication technology has driven organized crime syndicates to exploit online markets.

"We've observed a trend that traditional street crimes are moving into cyberspace," Wong said.

He added that syndicates are forced to "find other ways to make a living" amid severe crackdowns on traditional crimes such as smuggling and drug dealing across Southeast Asia.

"Criminal groups have discovered that they would make money more easily from cybercrimes, which would be more difficult to catch."

He also said fraudsters in Southeast Asia are focusing on China as its citizens rely heavily on the internet.

"People in the mainland are accustomed to the use of e-payments and social media, which make the area the biggest market for scam criminals."

Wong said fraud factories, as a result, are now trafficking more people who can speak Putonghua, including Hongkongers, while foreigners who can speak English are also abducted to staff the factories scamming people in Southeast Asia as well as Hong Kong and Macau.

In Bangkok, the Security Bureau's task force delegated to help rescue the remaining 12 Hongkongers trapped in Myanmar met with representatives from the Thai Ministry of Justice yesterday morning. They later met with Wu Zhiwu, deputy chief of mission at China's embassy in Thailand.

Undersecretary for Security Michael Cheuk Hau-yip, who leads the task force, said Thai authorities attach great importance to the issue and assured they will support Hong Kong in bringing home its trapped residents.

A mainland couple from Shandong, meanwhile, showed up at the embassy in Bangkok yesterday afternoon, asking for help to find their son, who went missing on January 1 after getting in a taxi at the airport.

The couple said they were not aware that their son was kidnapped until he requested a transfer of 7,000 yuan (HK$ 7,433) through WeChat a few days ago.

Wong cautioned that dismantling such syndicates would be challenging since they typically operate covertly in regions marked by turmoil near borders, which are additionally safeguarded by armed forces.

Syndicates would bribe local military or government officials to cover their crimes, he said, and even if their locations were uncovered, the syndicates' masterminds can quickly relocate their factories.

Wong urged the Hong Kong government to strengthen cooperation with mainland authorities on rescuing trapped citizens and combating scams, as well as enhance education and raise public awareness of cybersecurity.

He called on the public to inform families or friends before going to high-risk countries.

Wong also reminded people not to disclose any personal information such as addresses and identity card numbers on social media.

Editorial: Page 4