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Scams and swindles

Scams and swindles
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Scams and swindles. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Chief Inspector Ho Ming-wai (right) says 3,766 phone scam cases were recorded from January to May this year. Photo: Karma Lo
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 61 in crackdown on phone scams as cases surge 46%

Operation smashes 54 cases mostly involving ‘guess who I am’ scams, with losses of over HK$31 million.

Trending in China

China investor reveals 9-year hunt to bring fugitive fraudster ex-wife to justice

Artificial intelligence

Southeast Asian scammers’ new disguise: your leader’s face

Crime

Jiaying Chen, who wed at least 14 men in Vegas fraud scheme, to plead guilty

She allegedly asked her victims for money to help a sick relative in China, but instead used the funds to gamble, authorities say.

Jiaying Chen appears in court during a hearing at the Regional Justice Centre in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Photo: TNS
Crime in Hong Kong

Former PolyU student arrested for allegedly submitting fake academic documents

Insider says ex-student, dismissed for poor performance, handed in fake certificate and transcripts at PolyU centre.

Crime

US man Jeffrey Ying sentenced for stealing rare Chinese manuscript from UCLA

Ying would borrow valuable classics from the university library then swap them for fakes before travelling to China.

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Crime in Hong Kong

125 arrested as triads use violence to seize construction site lunchbox trade

Syndicate sold about 800 lunchboxes daily, each priced at HK$50, with an annual turnover of nearly HK$12 million.

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The group ran an illegal food preparation factory in a tin shack in Sai Kung. Photo: Handout
Indonesia

‘Strong deterrent’: Indonesia expels 92 Chinese suspected scammers

The Chinese nationals were arrested in May in connection with an alleged online gaming and investment fraud syndicate operating from Batam.

Thailand

Drug traffickers using social media to hire Thai airline staff as couriers

A Thai Airways flight attendant was charged with importing more than one kilogram of heroin into Australia.

WhatsApp

Fake Dubai prince scam: how AI deepfakes love-bomb victims to steal hearts and money

Fraudsters use real-time face-swapping tech and the likeness of royal ‘Fazza’ to ensnare vulnerable targets.

A manipulated image from a Change.org petition called the 'STOP FAZZA SCAM'. Photo: Change.org
Crime

Exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui jailed for 30 years in US for fraud

A New York judge ordered Guo to forfeit US$889 million in restitution, saying he ‘preyed on those seeking to bring Democracy to China’.

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Fugitive Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui in New York in 2018. Photo: AFP / Getty Images / TNS
Hong Kong police

Hong Kong physiotherapist loses HK$5m in scam involving ‘beautiful assistant’

Facebook ad redirected victim to WhatsApp chat with scammer who pushed fake ‘SecuG Pro’ investment app and solicited transfers.

Japan

Meet AIko: Japan’s AI police chief taking on a US$2 billion scam epidemic

Japan has a new police chief. Her name is AIko, she lives on YouTube and she’s coming for scammers.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, mainland police smash HK$16.8 million cross-border phishing syndicate

Fifteen arrested after scammers impersonated government services, including Water Supplies Department, to dupe victims.

The joint enforcement action, code-named Operation Boldhawk, targeted a criminal chain that sent malicious text messages to residents, Superintendent Hui Yee-wai (centre) says. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong beautician pleads guilty to luring 2 women into Myanmar scam factory

Victims offered free flights, accommodation and reward for transporting 48 million baht before being ‘sold’ to compound.

Poon Sum-yi, 33, pleaded guilty to a count of fraud for luring the two victims into travelling to Thailand. Photo: Jelly Tse
Trending in China

Chinese man sells random vacant flat to trusting couple for US$103,000

The case sparks outrage on mainland social media, with many calling Sun conscienceless and ungrateful.

Crime in Hong Kong

29 arrested in crackdown on loan sharks who charged victims 3,000% in interest

Syndicate set up call centre and posed as licensed finance companies, tricking victims into taking out loans.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 69 over laundering HK$200m from cross-border fraud

Suspects aged 18 to 60 held in joint operation targeting syndicate using mule accounts to launder proceeds from investment scams.

Hong Kong police have arrested 69 people linked to a syndicate suspected of laundering about HK$200 million from cross-border investment fraud. Photo: Getty Images
Thailand

Thailand auctions US$18 million superyacht linked to supersized fraud

Nearly US$700 million in assets have been seized in Thailand so far, an example of the amount of dirty money sloshing through the economy.

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Hong Kong courts

1 year in prison for man who forced 2 Thai women into prostitution in Hong Kong

Gang member Chiu Hon-leung ordered subordinates to lock women in Yau Ma Tei flat in 2023 but was arrested after victims alerted Thai consulate.

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Trending in China

China’s ‘soy sauce’ detox scam swindles over 100 seniors out of US$1.5 million

Police say health centre with ‘abnormal’ US$4.5 million turnover was part of organised fraud ring that preyed on loneliness of elderly.

Police in China have busted a fake clinic which scammed dozens of elderly people out of a total of US$1.5 million by preying on their loneliness. Photo: Shutterstock
Crime

AI driving ‘more elaborate and deceptive’ cyberfraud in Asia: Interpol

Of the 18 Interpol members that responded to the Asian survey, more than half reported that cybercrime made up 30 per cent of all offences.

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Chinese nationals suspected of running cyberscam centres are escorted to a prison after their arrest in Colombo on May 9. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong courts

Court extends order against college finance chief in HK$25m embezzlement case

Hong Kong Chu Hai College alleges that Ray Yip disguised illicit transactions as academic and administrative expenses.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s US$8 million visa scandal threatens drive for talent, investors

Public-sector corruption is an ‘open secret’ in Indonesia, analysts say, urging Jakarta to make the application process more transparent.

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Singapore

Singapore uncovers US$18 million scheme to dodge US mattress tariffs, 3 charged

The men allegedly declared China-made mattresses as Singapore goods to avoid paying US anti-dumping duties.

A seized mattress bears an allegedly falsified “Made in Singapore” stamp on its tag. Photo: Singapore Customs
Cambodia

Cambodia’s ‘performative’ crackdowns fail to stop scam centres: Amnesty

The rights group said it identified 86 scam compounds operating across Cambodia as of April, up from 53 a year earlier.

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Cambodian authorities display equipment seized from a scam compound in Phnom Penh on March 11. Photo: EPA
Crime in Hong Kong

Scammers posing as police dupe 42 mainland students in Hong Kong out of millions

One 21-year-old victim was tricked into staging her own ‘abduction’ after being lured to Thailand.

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Singapore

Suspected Filipino scammer reveals how Cambodian ring conned Singaporeans

De Villar Rizalyn Panganiban, accused of taking part in a three-level impersonation scam, gives insights into the gang’s fraud tactics.

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