Hong Kong student arrested over HK$3m scam deceived by same swindlers

A 19-year-old university student in Hong Kong has been arrested for allegedly swindling over HK$3 million (US$384,600) from a man, after falling victim to the same scammers. Inspector Wu Kwan-yu of the Tseung Kwan O police district's intelligence section stated that the female student was apprehended on suspicion of impersonating mainland Chinese public security officials.

Police are urging young individuals to remain cautious and avoid becoming victims of scams, as greed or misplaced trust can lead to exploitation or recruitment by criminals.

According to a source, the student was contacted by scammers who accused her of involvement in money-laundering operations on the mainland and demanded she follow their instructions to prove her innocence. The student subsequently received instructions from the scammers to meet a man at a hotel in Tseung Kwan O to hand over a non-disclosure agreement. It remains unclear whether the student profited or lost money during her interactions with other scammers, as the matter is still under investigation.

The police were alerted to the case after a 24-year-old man reported receiving a call from someone claiming to be a "telecoms company employee." The caller informed him that a mobile phone number registered under his name was linked to a money-laundering case on the mainland. The scammer then impersonated a mainland public security official, claiming the victim needed to follow their instructions to prove his innocence.

The man was then ordered to not disclose his whereabouts. The scammer promised an "agent" would meet him later, and he booked a hotel room in Tseung Kwan O, where the student met him outside. She claimed to be an investigative agent and convinced him to sign a document stamped with a fake chop. The man was subsequently instructed to transfer more than HK$3 million, after which the student was arrested in Sheung Wan.

Police found a fake identity document for a mainland law enforcement official, a printer suspected of producing fraudulent documents, and clothes the student wore during her meetings with the man. Under Hong Kong law, obtaining property through deception can result in a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment upon conviction.