Hongkongers lose HK$200 million to scams in a week, AI voice-cloning used

Hong Kong police said online fraudsters scammed people in the city out of more than HK$200 million (US$25.7 million) in a week between January 20 and 26, 2025. In the largest such case in terms of funds stolen, scammers used artificial intelligence (AI) to trick a victim into transferring HK$145 million. The police also issued alerts about online romance scams that reportedly saw combined losses of more than HK$30 million in recent days. The force urged the public to be especially vigilant during the coming Lantern Festival and Valentine’s Day.