Hong Kong police arrest nine in anti-fraud operation, recover HK$325,000
Hong Kong police arrested nine people in a territory-wide anti-fraud operation targeting a suspected syndicate linked to six phone scams. Victims aged 73 to 86 lost about HK$325,000, all of which was recovered. Suspects include locals and mainland Chinese, aged 16 to 41.
Hong Kong police have arrested nine people in a territory-wide anti-fraud operation that cracked a suspected syndicate linked to six phone scams. The arrests, made between 15 October and Thursday, include three local men, three mainland Chinese men, one mainland Chinese boy and two local women, aged between 16 and 41. They were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud.
According to police, the syndicate was managed by a local core member who recruited both local and mainland Chinese individuals to act as runners collecting money from victims. The group is suspected of being behind six phone scams in which callers pretended to be acquaintances of the victims, a common tactic known locally as 'guess who I am' scams.
The six victims, aged between 73 and 86, lost a total of about HK$325,000 (US$41,800) in the scams. Police said all of the stolen money has been successfully recovered. In the operation, officers also seized 20 mobile phones and clothing believed to have been worn by the suspects at the time of the alleged offences.
The operation involved multiple districts across Hong Kong. Police did not disclose the exact locations of the arrests or whether the suspects have been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
