33 held in crackdown on credit card theft ring targeting Hongkongers in Shenzhen
Hong Kong and mainland Chinese police have arrested 33 people in a joint operation to crack down on a suspected credit card theft syndicate targeting city residents who travel across the border for leisure, with losses exceeding HK$1.8 million (US$229,500). Superintendent Tsang Chun-kit of police’s crime Kowloon East Regional Headquarters said the syndicate had allegedly stolen Hongkongers’…
Hong Kong and Shenzhen police have jointly apprehended 33 individuals in a crackdown on a suspected credit card theft ring targeting Hongkongers who visit the Chinese city for leisure, resulting in losses surpassing HK$1.8 million (US$229,500). Superintendent Tsang Chun-kit of the Crime Kowloon East Regional Headquarters disclosed that the syndicate allegedly pilfered Hongkongers' credit cards in Shenzhen and swiftly returned to the territory to make purchases and sell them, profiting from the transactions.
Tsang explained that victims had been enjoying tourist attractions in Shenzhen before the criminal activity began, often failing to inspect their personal belongings upon their return. The Kowloon East regional technology and financial crime unit collaborated with Shenzhen's public security bureau to conduct an extensive investigation, leading to the separate enforcement actions.
Hong Kong authorities arrested 11 men and five women, aged between 17 and 45, on suspicion of dealing with stolen goods, conspiracy to defraud, and obtaining property through deception. Among the suspects were two key members of the syndicate, 13 "card carriers," and one employee of a second-hand electronic device shop. The latter were suspected of involvement in at least 60 incidents of stolen credit card theft, amassing losses exceeding HK$1.8 million.
The incident with the highest loss involved a sum of HK$110,000. Mainland Chinese authorities arrested 11 men and six women, aged between 36 and 56, in Shenzhen for the operation, accusing them of theft and concealing or hiding criminal earnings. Chief Inspector Fung Chi-tat of the Kowloon East regional technology and financial crime unit headquarters elaborated that the syndicate operated with a three-tier structure.
At the base level, they enlisted thieves and "card carriers," who utilized guesthouses near Shenzhen border checkpoints as gathering spots for the latter. The middle tier comprised supervisors who managed the transfer of stolen credit cards from thieves to "card carriers," facilitating their travel between Hong Kong and the mainland to deliver stolen cards and monitor purchases.
The top tier involved "card carriers" purchasing expensive mobile phones for resale, obtaining cash in the process. These "card carriers" were also instructed to sell the mobile phones at a designated second-hand electronic device shop. Inspector Chow Ka-yun of the Kowloon East regional technology and financial crime unit revealed that law enforcement had been targeting suspects between August and October, executing arrest operations at MTR stations, shops where "card carriers" attempted purchases, and the specified second-hand electronic device shop.
Hong Kong officers confiscated 13 mobile phones bought with stolen credit cards, nine stolen cards, and numerous receipts of related transactions.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
