appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Benjamin Fuller

A Hong Kong physiotherapist has been scammed out of HK$5 million (US$637,570) after falling victim to an online investment trap that involved helping a virtual “beautiful assistant” hit sales targets, police have said.
The case, revealed by police on Monday via their Facebook page, was among more than 80 reports of online investment scams received in the past week, with total losses exceeding HK$86 million.
Details released on police’s CyberDefender page on Monday showed that the local physiotherapist first spotted a Facebook advertisement promoting an “online investment expert”, which redirected him to a WhatsApp chat with a “beautiful assistant”.
The assistant, whose WhatsApp profile featured a professionally dressed woman, provided daily stock market updates and claimed that clients were making substantial profits through the expert’s advice, according to police.
The victim was persuaded to download a sham investment app named “SecuG Pro”, which was presented as a trading platform offering stocks at below-market prices. The victim was instructed to transfer funds to an unknown bank account to begin trading.
“Unsuspecting of any fraud, the victim transferred the money into unidentified personal bank accounts as directed by customer service. The ‘beautiful assistant’ then begged the victim to make multiple additional transactions to help her meet sales targets,” police said.
The physiotherapist continued to send more money as the app’s interface reflected growing profits, the force added.
The scam came to light when he attempted to withdraw funds but was unable to do so. The force said the physiotherapist lost HK$5 million.
Members of the public are advised to avoid clicking on suspicious links, downloading unverified applications or transferring money to unknown accounts.
Police also warned that figures shown on fraudulent platforms were often fabricated and did not reflect genuine investments. They urged the public to remain cautious of offers, particularly those promising “high returns with low risk”.
Authorities recorded 1,003 cases between January and March this year, a 7 per cent decrease from the same period last year.
However, total losses from investment scams rose slightly in the first quarter of this year, climbing to HK$680 million.


Woman chased by 3 dogs before suspected fatal attack in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 3, seize HK$23 million of Ice in Fanling bust

Hong Kong 999 callers can send real-time audio, video data from 2028: Chris Tang

Hong Kong police officer left paralysed in 2005 knife attack dies

Hong Kong police

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

The victim had communicated with scammer using a WhatsApp profile featuring a professionally dressed woman. Photo: AFP

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

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

The most significant loss involved a 71-year-old victim who lost more than HK$310,000 to scammers, Superintendent Hui Yee-wai says. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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

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

Senior Inspector Yip Kai-ming of the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre.  Photo: Handout

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

Police said they seized HK$300,000 in cash during the operation. Photo: Handout

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

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


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


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

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Facebook ad redirected victim to WhatsApp chat with scammer who pushed fake ‘SecuG Pro’ investment app and solicited transfers

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