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HK$144 million lost to phone scammers in Hong Kong Covid-related ruses
Among cases is student, 19, who received call while in quarantine from ‘Shanghai police’ accusing him of laundering money, and asking for HK$2 million in surety.
Phone scammers using pandemic ruses have duped Hong Kong residents out of HK$144 million (US$18.3 million) in the first four months of this year, with the loss amounting to 18 times the figure recorded in the whole of 2021.
The 102 victims bilked this year include dozens of university students, with the ruse continuing in May when a 19-year-old boy lost HK$2 million after being scammed while in quarantine at a government isolation facility for Covid-19.
The biggest victim is a housewife who lost HK$65 million, dwarfing the total amount of HK$7.88 million lost in 29 cases in the whole of 2021.
The 102 victims bilked this year include dozens of university students, with the ruse continuing in May when a 19-year-old boy lost HK$2 million after being scammed while in quarantine at a government isolation facility for Covid-19.
The biggest victim is a housewife who lost HK$65 million, dwarfing the total amount of HK$7.88 million lost in 29 cases in the whole of 2021.
