Hong Kong woman loses HK$4.9 million to bogus online ‘investment experts’
Victim lured by social media advertisement promising high-return stock investments, police say
A Hong Kong woman has lost nearly HK$4.9 million (US$625,800) in three months after being cheated by bogus “investment experts” in an online scam.
The victim was lured into contacting the scammers after seeing a post on social media advertising high-return stock investments, police said.
She was then instructed to download an app via an online messaging service.
Believing the scheme to be genuine, the victim transferred about HK$4.86 million in more than 40 transactions between January and April to 20 different bank accounts designated by the scammers.
The victim eventually lost contact with the “investment experts” and could not withdraw any of her investment funds.
She suspected she had been cheated and reported the case to police on April 15.
The case was classified as “obtaining property by deception” and an investigation was under way. No arrest has been made, police said.