22nd March 2023 – (Hong Kong) A 22-year-old Chinese man fell victim to a scam and lost HK$670,000 after receiving a phone call from an alleged Chinese law enforcement officer. The victim reported the incident yesterday, 2023, claiming that the impersonator had accused him of being involved in a criminal case in mainland China and demanded payment of bail to prove the source of his funds.
According to the victim, the impersonator threatened to have him arrested and extradited to China if he refused to comply. Following the impersonator’s instructions, the victim transferred the requested amount to a bank account in Hong Kong. However, he later realised that he had been scammed and sought help.
The police have not made any arrests in the case, which has been classified as “obtaining property by deception.” The victim’s bank account has been frozen, and the authorities are investigating the source of the scammer’s account.
Impersonation scams have become an increasingly common form of fraud in Hong Kong in recent times, and this incident highlights the need for greater awareness of such threats. Scammers often impersonate law enforcement officers, government officials, or representatives of financial institutions to trick victims into transferring money.
The Hong Kong police have issued a warning to the public, urging them to be cautious of unsolicited phone calls and emails, especially those demanding money or sensitive information. They have also advised the public to verify the identity of the person they are communicating with and not to disclose personal information to anyone unless they are certain of their legitimacy.