HK police report spike in phone scam

(CHINADAILY)Thenumberoftelephonescamsinvolvingmainlandconartistsposingasgovernmentofficialsshotupbyanastonishingamountlastyear,over2014,sayHongKongpolice.Thenumberswentupfrom23casesin2014toabout1,400in2015.

ThelossestoHongKongresidentsin500ofthosecasescametoHK$290million.JustthismonthconartiststookonelocalvictimforHK$58million,thebiggestsinglehaulfraudsofar.A73-year-oldChinesefemalesopranoreportedlywasbilkedforHK$20millionlastAugust.

Inmostcases,thebogusofficialsclaimtheyareinpossessionofparcelsaddressedtothevictim.Thevictimisadvisedthepackagecontainsillegaldocuments,includingthingslikecounterfeitIDcards.Anotherphonypolicemanentersthepicture,toapplyheavycoercionontheintendedvictim.Theyoftentrytoforcevictimstomakeelectronicbanktransfersintheprocess.

Allcategoriesofphonescamsincreasedby30lastyearover2014.IntotalHongKongPolicehandled2,900casesoftelephonefraudlastyear.

Sofarthisyear,HongKongresidentshavelostHK$77millionin84casesofcallerspretendingtobemainlandofficials.Theflare-upofthesecriminaloffenseshasbroughtclosercooperationbetweenpoliceonbothsidesoftheborder.Measuresforscrutinizingsuspicioustransactionsarebeingintroduced.Severalsyndicatesoperatingthescamshavebeenbustedbutpolicealsowanttoeducatethepublicthatitcanbedangeroustoanswerthephone.