Hong Kong police, mainland officials discuss stepping up anti-scam education
Police chief Raymond Siu says force also investigating whether education consultants passed mainland students’ details onto scammers
Hong Kong police have reached out to mainland Chinese authorities to discuss the possibility of educating students coming from across the border and their parents about scams before they arrive in the city, according to the head of the force.
Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee also said on Saturday the force was investigating whether any education consultants helping mainland students apply to study in the city had passed their information onto scammers.
“Last month, our colleagues went to the mainland and had discussions with the National Anti-Fraud Centre, the Ministry of Education’s Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange and the National Immigration Administration,” he said.
“We hope to do anti-scam education at the source, so that these students can receive the information on the mainland before they reach Hong Kong.”
The police chief added the measures were not only aimed at students but also their parents.
“It is even more critical that we reach the parents of these mainland students, as scammers will scam students, and students will then ask for money from their parents afterwards,” he said. “If parents are aware of these types of scam cases, they will know what to do.”
Siu also said the force was looking into whether education consultants were colluding with scammers.