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Scams and swindles

Scams and swindles
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Both scams used phishing links to access victims’ securities accounts, police have said. Photo: Getty Images
Crime in Hong Kong

8 arrested in Hong Kong after HK$46 million lost in investor phishing scams

Seven men and a woman arrested in connection with two phishing cases that allegedly targeted more than 130 victims based locally and overseas.

Vietnam

Vietnam’s fake cooking oil scandal shakes trust in food safety

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Cambodia

‘A living nightmare’: Cambodia blasted for backing US$12.5 billion scam hubs

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The Philippines

In the Philippines, AI fakes duel over VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment

Even after being exposed as fakes, supporters of Sara Duterte remained unfazed, claiming the AI-generated content still made a valid point.

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Protesters rally again a Senate decision not to immediately bring Vice-President Sara Duterte to an impeachment trial earlier this month. Photo: AP
Trending in China

Taiwan man soaks feet in dry ice for 10 hours to con insurance firms, loses feet

Zhang secures himself to chair with plastic straps to prevent pulling away if experience becomes unbearable.

Crime in Hong Kong

Third of victims of 170 Hong Kong compensated dating, naked chat scams are pupils

Police say cases involve more than HK$4.5 million, with victims lured into engaging in nude chats or sending explicit photos.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong-based financial adviser’s name and image exploited again in scams

Professor Chan Yan-chong of City University stresses he never gives advice online, notes that many victims, including some in Singapore, are retirees.

Professor Chan Yan-Chong of City University says he never gives financial advice online. Photo: Dickson Lee
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 118 over e-commerce scams involving HK$5 million in losses

Three most common types of goods involved in such scams are concert tickets, electronics and food and drink.

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 8 after fake concert tickets sold for HK$650,000

Source says tickets for Taiwanese star Jay Chou’s coming concerts in Hong Kong were among those advertised by scammers in cross-border group.

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong hostel manager charged by ICAC over HK$900,000 theft

Former Caritas-Hong Kong employee allegedly altered booking records and stole outstanding guest payments.

A former employee allegedly stole more than HK$900,000 from Caritas Oswald Cheung International House in Aberdeen. Photo: Google map
Hong Kong society

Letters | To flourish, Hong Kong needs higher priorities than wealth accumulation

Readers discuss the science of happiness, cross-border scam-fighting work, and developer woes.

People in Central district stand near a screen displaying stock data on October 2. Photo: Eugene Lee
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong man scammed out of HK$4,900 trying to buy Blackpink tickets

Victim deposited money into account of person he thought had two tickets to sell on Threads for one of next year’s shows.

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong teens held over swindling elderly woman out of HK$50,000 in phone scam

Man, 18, and girl, 16, allegedly impersonated 85-year-old victim’s daughter and claimed she urgently needed bail money.

Trending in China

Chinese woman schemes to make US$1.4 million, lives with rich men, loots homes

Frugal fraudster with taste for high-life is dubbed the ‘most beautiful criminal’ after she has plastic surgery to dupe lovers.

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A woman in China cooked up a scheme to make US$1.4 million over a five-year period by living with rich men and looting their luxury homes. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/163.com
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Singaporean police team up to smash cross-border scam syndicate

Hong Kong authorities became aware of syndicate after members allegedly bought HK$18 million worth of SIM cards for scams.

Police display telecoms devices seized as part of the joint operation with Singapore. Photo: Jonathan Wong
The Philippines

Up to 10,000 Pogo-linked foreigners in Philippines amid criticisms of inaction

A senior official says a detention facility in Pasay, where many linked to Pogos are held, is finding it hard to cope with overcrowding.

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Hong Kong entertainment

Hong Kong’s 1980s nightlife culture dazzles again at old Club BBoss site

Big Boss Generation revives the old club’s huge dance floor, enticing locals and visitors with a glimpse of the go-go ‘80s nightclub scene.

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Human trafficking

Letters | Indonesia must tackle human trafficking better. Here’s how

Readers discuss gaps in Indonesia’s fight against human trafficking, the missing piece in Hong Kong’s national security strategy, and taxi licences.

An Indonesian national rescued from Myanmar kisses the ground upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta airport near Jakarta on March 18. Southeast Asian scam centres involve criminal gangs trafficking hundreds of thousands of people to help generate illicit revenues. Photo: AP
Malaysia

US$900 million seized as China helps Malaysia dismantle Tedy Teow’s scam empire

MBI Group’s Malaysian founder has been called ‘Jho Lo 2’ because of the sheer scale of his operation.

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Thailand

Border tensions rise as Thailand and Cambodia reinforce troops after May 28 clash

The two governments have issued statements committing to dialogue following a brief skirmish on May 28 that resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.

Thailand

Chinese fugitive’s daring escape in Thailand ends in recapture 200km away

The Chinese fraud suspect jumped out of a second-floor window during his bold escape.

Chinese national, Li Jian, was arrested at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport on Wednesday. Photo: Handout
Malaysia

Malaysian retiree loses US$38,000 in sperm scam linked to ‘Hong Kong woman’

The man ignored bank and police warnings about the scam that offered US$254,901 reward.

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A Malaysian man lost US$38,000 in a sperm donor scam. Photo: Shutterstock
Asean

My Take | Can Southeast Asia contain growing threat of cyber scams?

An unprecedented level of coordination is required to tackle such crimes as Southeast Asian economies become more digitalised.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Man arrested for allegedly impersonating Hong Kong police, officials in 3 scams

Authorities say 57-year-old used false identities to con victims out of HK$310,000 by claiming he could help buy discounted concert tickets, phones.

Crime in Hong Kong

40% rise in Hong Kong concert ticket scams amid JJ Lin, Jay Chou shows

Police say more than 70 cases reported in second half of May involved bogus ticket sales for Mandopop stars’ Kai Tak Stadium shows.

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Thirty-seven people came forward over the past two weeks after falling victim to scams offering bogus tickets to Singaporean singer JJ Lin’s concerts in Hong Kong. Photo: Weibo/JJ Lin
Trending in China

China firm cons parents out of US$51,000 with fake elite brand kids fashion show

Firm preys on parents desperate to make their kids famous by using counterfeit luxury brand logos, charging registration fees.

A company in China has conned dozens of parents out of a total of US$55,500 by staging a fake elite brand fashion show for children. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
The Philippines

US sanctions Philippine tech firm over ‘pig butchering’ romance scams

Funnull Technology’s infrastructure supported more than 332,000 domain names linked to cryptocurrency scams, US Treasury Department says.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong helps seize HK$157 million in cross-border online scam operation

Seven Asian police agencies also made 1,800 arrests and froze over 32,000 bank accounts with the aid of direct communication platform.

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