17 arrested, HK$3.67m seized in crackdown on scam group using Malaysian ‘runners’

In a recent police operation, 17 individuals have been arrested in Hong Kong, with HK$3.67 million seized, targeting a fraud ring that utilized Malaysian "runners" to collect proceeds from victims of the "guess who I am" phone scam. The syndicate allegedly duped 22 victims out of about HK$2.5 million between June and August, with the largest loss being HK$700,000.

The fraudsters would call victims, impersonating relatives or friends, and request immediate cash to cover up bogus claims of arrests or emergencies. The crime syndicate recruited runners from Malaysia to collect the money directly from victims and transport it to three transit points, receiving compensation of HK$500 to HK$1,000 per day, with flights and accommodation provided.

Upon locating a victim's address, officers found that the victims were unaware they had been scammed and believed their money had been paid to the police for bail. Twelve Malaysian men, aged 20 to 48, have been charged with conspiracy to defraud and have appeared in various magistrates' courts. Five other suspects were arrested on Friday, suspected of being accomplices to the fraud ring, and are currently in police custody.

Police seized HK$3.67 million in suspected crime proceeds from three businesses, estimating the syndicate handled up to HK$4.67 million in total. Authorities cautioned residents to remain vigilant when receiving unexpected calls from individuals claiming to be relatives in need of money, advising them to verify the situation with other family members and report any suspicious activity to the police.

They also urged remittance companies and cryptocurrency exchange centers to be extra cautious about unusual cash or digital asset transfers.