{
  "id": 11573630,
  "title": "Police issue warning on new types of scams",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/police-issue-warning-on-new-types-of-scams",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T01:16:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTHK English",
    "slug": "rthk-english",
    "url": "https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1872523-20261003.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Police in Hong Kong have cautioned the public about emerging scam tactics employed by fraudsters who pose as customer service representatives. These criminals are now able to remotely access victims' credit cards, leading to an increase in scam cases. From January to August, over 5,000 scam incidents occurred, comprising 17% of all reported fraud during this period. In August alone, 1,680 impersonation cases were reported, a significant rise from the monthly average of 480 cases seen in the first seven months. These cases resulted in losses exceeding HK$220 million.\n\nChief Inspector Wong Cheung-hing revealed that scammers are utilizing two new technical methods to carry out these scams. The first method involves tricking victims into downloading malware, enabling Near Field Communication (NFC), and holding their credit card close to their phone. This allows scammers to make payments remotely. The second tactic involves instructing victims to register a new bank account as a payee and enter a verification code into their e-banking platform, believing they are completing a verification step, thus authorizing a money transfer.\n\nBanks first alerted the police to these tactics in August, but calculating exact victim numbers remains challenging as victims find it difficult to provide precise details when speaking to the police. Chief Inspector Wong explained that almost half of all scam victims fall within the age group of 31 to 50, emphasizing that scammers do not discriminate based on age.\n\nChan Kin-leung, Principal Regulatory Affairs Manager at the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA), reported that as of August, over 880 companies and institutions had joined the SMS Sender Registration Scheme. This scheme, launched nearly three years ago, requires only registered senders to send SMS messages with a sender ID containing a '#' prefix, enabling the public to verify the legitimacy of messages. While banks and telecommunications firms are mandated to join, Chan noted that firms in other sectors may not have joined due to operational considerations. He added that the OFCA will continue to encourage more firms to join the scheme and explore additional methods to proactively intercept fraudulent messages. However, Chan stressed the importance of not assuming every incoming SMS is a scam, as this could pose practical challenges.",
  "summary": "Police have urged residents to stay alert to new tactics used by scammers posing as customer service agents, including a technique that effectively allows scammers to use victim's credit cards remotely. The force said around 5,000 scam cases between January and August involved fraudsters posing as customer service staff, accounting for 17 percent of all reported fraud during the period. In August…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTHK News",
        "title": "Police issue warning on new types of scams",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/police-issue-warning-on-new-types-of-scams-11574379",
        "published": "2026-10-03T01:16:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}