ICAC first received a complaint alleging impersonation of ICAC officers in phone scams. As officers concluded the investigation, they also revealed a woman was suspected of having visited Hong Kong upon a friend’s request to open bank accounts operated by others to handle payments in phone scams.

As the woman Hu Qingzhu, 39, arrived in Hong Kong on Friday, she was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

It is alleged that between November 2018 and March 2019, Hu conspired with others to handle various sums of Hong Kong dollars and United States dollars, totaling about HK$600,000, in her bank accounts at Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOCHK).

In November 2018, Hu allegedly visited Hong Kong to open three bank accounts at BOCHK upon the request of a friend she was acquainted with on social media and allowed others to operate those accounts.

During the account opening process, she also made false representations about her educational level and employment status.

Inquiries also revealed that scammers allegedly asked phone scam victims to deposit various sums of money into Hu’s bank accounts, purportedly for asset clearance or investigation.

A spokesperson for ICAC reminded that their officers would not request the public to transfer to designated bank accounts for asset clearance or investigation.

Residents receiving transfer requests made by people claiming to be ICAC officers are warned not to follow such instructions and report the matter to the ICAC hotline at 2526 6366.

ICAC also thanked BOCHK for its full assistance during the investigation into the case.