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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.
An Anti-Deception Coordination Centre poster alerts the public to online scams. Police warn that scammers are ramping up efforts to target retirees on social media and messaging apps. Photo: Jelly Tse
Crime in Hong Kong

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

The case was among over 50 investment scams reported in Hong Kong last week, with total losses approaching HK$30 million.

Trending in China

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

Crime in Hong Kong

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

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’.

Kiangsu-Chekiang College in North Point. There are three secondary schools and one primary school carrying the “Kiangsu‑Chekiang” name in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout
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).

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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Hong Kong police received more than 700 reports of unauthorised credit card transactions worth HK$14.7 million linked to pre-orders for Apple’s latest phone models. Photo: Sam Tsang
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.

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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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.

The HKUST campus in Clear Water Bay. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
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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US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announces enforcement actions against the Chinese-language marketplace Xinbi Guarantee in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
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.

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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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.

The fake collection bags were light blue, rather than dark blue ones used by the authentic volunteers. Photo: Threads/ms.lionheadrabbit
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.

The number of phone scam cases rose by 45 per cent to 4,830 in the first half of 2026 compared with a year ago, police say. Piictured is Chief Inspector Wong Yam-wing of the financial Intelligence and investigation bureau, Photo: Silvia Siu
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.

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.

A Louis Vuitton case is among the items to be auctioned next month. Photo: Hotlotz
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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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.

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.

A Royal Malaysian Police vehicle. Malaysia has reported six familicide cases so far in 2026. Photo: Shutterstock
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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People walk past a poster warning of scam threats in the financial business district of Raffles Place in Singapore in September 2025. Photo: AFP
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.

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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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.

Voters cast their votes during voting in the US presidential election at a polling station in Detroit, Michigan, on November 3, 2024. Photo: Reuters
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.

Police escort suspects arrested as part of a crackdown on a phone scam syndicate. Photo: Handout
Crime in Hong Kong

Multi-property owner loses HK$10 million after fraudster poses as possible tenant

Woman duped into bogus friendship by scammer, who promised tips on how to make money fast with cryptocurrencies.

Crime in Hong Kong

Investment scam cases in Hong Kong drop 15%, but losses remain high at HK$1.65b

Cases fall from 2,525 to 2,151 in first half of 2026, as police warn of fraudsters posing as representatives of overseas firms.

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