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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.
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

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.

Crime in Hong Kong

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

US-China relations

US Congress seeks to identify foreign countries behind scam calls

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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.

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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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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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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.

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.

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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Hong Kong recorded 2,151 investment scam cases in the first half of 2026. Photo: Getty Images
US-China relations

US charges 11 over sham marriages involving Chinese nationals, American soldiers

More than 1,000 marriages were allegedly arranged in decade-long immigration fraud scheme that generated tens of millions of dollars.

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In an image from the US federal court indictment, a foreign national (left), Anthony Cheng (centre) and Erika Johnson take part in a sham marriage ceremony on or about January 15, 2025. Photo: Handout
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong student arrested over HK$3m scam deceived by same swindlers

Arrested university student, 19, says she was called by scammers who demanded she follow their instructions to prove her own innocence.

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 8 over HK$6.2 million ‘sugar baby’ dating scam

Fraudsters posed as wealthy clients to extract bogus legal fees from victims, including teachers and healthcare workers, seeking compensated dates.

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Malaysia

Anger in Malaysia as Liow pays fine, has money-laundering charges dropped

Nicky Liow returned to the public eye when a photo of him in the ruling party’s uniform standing next to Prime Minister Anwar went viral.

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Malaysian fugitive businessman Nicky Liow is brought to court in 2021. Photo: Weibo
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong woman loses HK$69m to scammers posing as mainland Chinese officials

Victim, 43, made multiple transfers after receiving calls from fraudsters claiming to be officials accusing her of committing a crime.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Editorial | As scams plague Hong Kong, vigilance should be the watchword

With the authorities issuing no fewer than five alerts related to deception schemes on a single day this week, it’s clear more needs to be done.

US-China relations

US presses China over alleged scam bosses despite growing police cooperation

Washington says Trump raised the issue with Xi as the FBI expands cooperation with Chinese police on cyberfraud.

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Authorities say transnational cybercrime networks are becoming more sophisticated, with online scams costing victims billions of dollars each year. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong courts

Former Standard Chartered bank staff jailed over HK$28m Africa investment scam

Pair sentenced to three years at a Hong Kong court after ICAC probe finds they helped syndicate use fake bank documents to dupe 21 Japanese investors.

Woo Man‑ho and Chan Tak‑ching, both 39, were jailed for three years for helping a syndicate defraud Japanese investors with sham guarantees for African investment projects. Photo: Nathan Tsui
Crime in Hong Kong

Fears grow that Fun Coffee crypto scam duped over 1,000 as losses mount

Police say that total reported losses tied to Vietnam-based syndicate have climbed to HK$104 million, with 225 complaints received since last month.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Macau police arrest 8 over HK$100m Vietnam coffee investment scam

Fun Coffee established presence in Hong Kong last year, claiming to be a coffee investment enterprise with assets of more than US$1 billion.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong warns of scam sites posing as Canada, UK and Thailand e-visa portals

Privacy watchdog says fake sites often use URLs with spelling mistakes, extra letters or numbers.

Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has warned of suspected fraudulent e-visa application websites. Photo: Getty Images
Cambodia

Letters | Cambodia should investigate those who enabled scam networks

Readers discuss how Cambodia can regain international credibility, and vigilance against fraudulent loans and transactions.

A Thai soldier stands guard in a compound that the Thai military says was used for scam operations, in the town of O’Smach, along Cambodia’s northern border with Thailand, on April 7. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Capital One says Trump accounts were closed over money-laundering concerns

Bank asks court to dismiss debanking lawsuit, denying political motives against US president.

Malaysia

Scam raids of Malaysia’s Forest City prompt governance questions

The raids spotlight how organised crime has evolved and expanded operations by exploiting mixed-use developments, analysts say.

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