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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.
People gather next to the Merlion statue at the Marina Bay waterfront in Singapore. Photo: AFP
Singapore

Indonesian arrested in Singapore over fake banknotes was victim of fraud: lawyer

Dosma Sijabat says the 34 counterfeit S$10,000 notes did not belong to his client, who was merely exchanging them for someone else.

Southeast Asia forced-labour scams

Video | Chinese live-streamer held for US$90,000 ransom in Myanmar

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong woman, 80, loses HK$6 million to fake online investment expert

Trending in China

Chinese woman, 65, poses as young doctor and mum to con man out of US$25,000

Reviewing Yu’s videos, police spotted a tiny ‘AI-generated content’ disclaimer that the victim had missed.

Using AI to pose as a 20-something doctor, left, a 65-year-old Chinese woman, right, successfully swindled a man out of 170,000 yuan (US$25,000). Photo: SCMP composite/kakanews
Crime in Hong Kong

Editorial | To combat scams, Hong Kong needs stronger crackdowns, greater vigilance

The police’s latest efforts are encouraging, but with one Hongkonger duped by a fraudulent call every hour, there’s no room for complacency.

Crime in Hong Kong

Man arrested over alleged HK$2.8 million Hong Kong school admission scam

Police say suspect, 51, accepted 23 payments from an education consultant in exchange for securing dozens of places at ‘Kiangsu-Chekiang College’.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Video | Over 700 cardholders report unauthorised iPhone pre-order charges in Hong Kong

The unauthorised charges are linked to pre-orders of Apple’s newest iPhones, with the largest single case involving HK$114,000 (US$14,500).

he unauthorised charges are linked to pre-orders of Apple’s newest iPhones, with the largest single case involving HK$114,000 (US$14,500).
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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong’s iPhone scam: how to shop safely online and prevent credit card fraud

In the wake of Hong Kong’s iPhone credit card scam, experts break down data security risks, 3DSecure and practical online shopping safeguards.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Number of suspicious credit card transactions involving iPhones surges to 1,209

Apple spokesman says all current orders are being reviewed before processing as total amount involved rises to HK$25 million.

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Trending in China

China grandma drains life savings on US$450,000 beauty fraud before daughter finds out

Salon charged 10 to 20 times the market rate; a single multi-procedure lip tattooing session cost a staggering US$6,000.

A 75-year-old Shanghai grandmother blew her entire three million yuan (US$450,000) life savings on overpriced beauty treatments before her daughter exposed the scam. Photo: Shutterstock
Crime in Hong Kong

Over 700 cardholders report unauthorised iPhone pre-order charges worth HK$14.7m

Some report multiple transactions on their credit cards, while an expert says fraudsters may have exploited pre-order rush for Apple’s new iPhones.

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The pre-order rush for the new iPhone 18 Pro Max has led to some Hongkongers’ credit cards being used to make unauthorised purchases. Photo: EPA
Crime in Hong Kong

Mainland Chinese HKUST student loses HK$1 million to scammer posing as official

Phone scammer accused her of being involved in criminal case and demanded ‘guarantees’ from her, Hong Kong police say.

US-China relations

US sanctions Chinese-language Xinbi Guarantee marketplace over cyber scams

Washington also seizes Telegram channels and US$52 million in cryptocurrency linked to the platform’s alleged illicit operations.

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Singapore

Singapore man pleads guilty after massive US bitcoin heist and spending spree

The 22-year-old helped launder the stolen funds, then used the money to buy sports cars, rent mansions and spend millions at nightclubs.

A photo of Malone Lam in a Miami nightclub was included in this US Justice Department court filing in the case against Hamza Doost and Kunal Mehta, photographed on Friday. Photo: AP
Thailand

12 South Koreans arrested in Thailand scam centre crackdown

Police say the alleged scammers entered Thailand from a neighbouring country and rented a luxury house south of Bangkok.

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A Royal Thai Army soldier walks beyond barbed wire outside hospital buildings of an abandoned scam centre in O’Smach town on the Thai-Cambodian border, on Monday. Photo: AFP
Crime in Hong Kong

Man arrested over flag-day scam targeting animal charity donations

Man, 22, arrested after 14 people allegedly hired to act as volunteers to collect donations for Hong Kong Saving Cat and Dog Association.

Crime in Hong Kong

Fake customer service drives 56% jump in phone scam losses to HK$900 million

“Every one hour, a resident falls for a scam after answering a fraudulent call,” police superintendent says, as force reveals latest figures.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 2 from clinic over sales of bogus ‘cancer vaccine’

Authorities seize more than 50 unregistered injections in investigation into product marketed as vaccine against more than 20 types of cancer.

Hong Kong authorities investigated a clinic after it promoted an unregistered product as protection against more than 20 types of cancer. Photo: Handout
US-China relations

US Congress seeks to identify foreign countries behind scam calls

Inquiry comes as US government reports tying much of the financial damage from scams to Chinese criminal networks based in Southeast Asia.

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Singapore

Singapore to auction luxury goods, properties from money laundering case

Island-wide raids in August 2023 uncovered millions of dollars earned from an illicit gambling ring run by Chinese suspects.

The Philippines

How the Philippines missed a US$3.8 billion Korean gambling racket

Recent arrests expose a long-running crime network that flourished in the shadow of the nation’s Pogo scandal.

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Security officers stand guard outside a closed Pogo compound in Cavite province, the Philippines, in 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE
Singapore

Costly lesson: how Singapore investors are lured by foreign-stock scams

Analysts say real overseas stocks, trading platforms and chat groups can give scams a veneer of legitimacy.

People walk past the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing in Exchange Square, Central, on July 17. Photo: Karma Lo
Malaysia

Malaysian man kills wife, 2 children and self over love scam

Police say the distraught husband left a note blaming US$61,000 in scam debts and his wife’s ongoing contact with a fraudster.

Singapore

Can Singapore’s new anti-scam rules help stop online fraud before it occurs?

The new rules shift more responsibility to messaging platforms, in a move analysts say could become a regional model.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong man loses HK$2.8 million in investment scam, among 50 cases in a week

Fraudsters conned victim in his sixties into investing in fraudulent ‘recyclable waste project’ by energy giants in Hong Kong, mainland China.

Hong Kong police have recorded 50 investment scams in the past week, with losses totalling over HK$30 million. Photo: Getty Images
Crime

Asia faces scam ‘epidemic’ threat as gangs exploit agentic AI, analyst warns

The technology could allow scam syndicates to carry out multiple tasks to cheat victims at the same time without needing human intervention.

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Losses from transnational online scams in Asia-Pacific surged to US$114 billion last year. Photo; Shutterstock
US-China relations

Chinese national charged with voter fraud during 2024 US presidential election

Yupeng Sun was arrested for allegedly submitting a fraudulent voter registration and ballot, while impersonating a fellow countryman.

Crime in Hong Kong

17 arrested, HK$3.67m seized in crackdown on scammers using Malaysian ‘runners’

Police say arrests connected to phone scams that targeted 22 people and resulted in losses of HK$2.5 million between June and August.

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