Expatriate loses HK$2m in hotel booking scam as Hong Kong police report HK$10m weekly job fraud
Hong Kong police received over 20 reports of online employment fraud in a week, with losses nearing HK$10 million. One expatriate woman was swindled out of more than HK$2 million in a deceptive hotel booking commission scheme.
Hong Kong police have recorded more than 20 reports of online employment fraud over the past week, involving total losses nearing HK$10 million. One expatriate woman was swindled out of more than HK$2 million in a deceptive hotel booking commission scheme, according to authorities.
The expatriate victim was lured by a recruitment advertisement on Facebook offering lucrative commissions for boosting hotel booking numbers through online order-brushing tasks. After expressing interest, she was contacted by scammers via WhatsApp, who provided a referral code and a link to a fake hotel reservation website.
Following instructions from individuals posing as customer service representatives, the victim registered an account on the fraudulent platform. She was then told to transfer funds into several personal bank accounts under the pretext of making hotel reservations to earn substantial commissions.
Although the bogus website initially showed commissions credited to her account, the victim found she could not withdraw any funds. After discussing the matter with family members, she contacted the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre via the 18222 anti-scam helpline, where officers confirmed she had fallen prey to an online fraud ring. Within days, she had transferred more than HK$2 million to the fraudsters.
Police noted that this case was part of a broader surge in employment-related deception, with more than 20 similar reports in a seven-day span resulting in nearly HK$10 million in collective losses. The recent wave highlights the persistent threat of cyber fraud targeting job seekers, with criminal syndicates using social media platforms and encrypted messaging services to lure victims with promises of high, quick returns.
Investigators urged residents to exercise caution when encountering online recruitment advertisements promising easy money or high commission rates. They warned against transferring funds to personal bank accounts or clicking on unverified links provided by strangers on messaging apps.