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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.
Police prosecutor Thomas Blom. Photo: NTB Scanpix via AP
Nordic nations

Norwegian police arrest Chinese citizen on spying allegations

Authorities allege the woman had a suspected role in spying on Norwegian satellite data.

Thailand

‘Phantom birth’ scam spooks Thailand as hundreds of babies get fake citizenship

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Trending in China

Ex-China soldier flees Myanmar scam centre, scales wall, masks scent with cow dung

Crime in Hong Kong

Elderly scam victims lose HK$850,000 on average, but ones who know finance lose more

Cases involving older Hongkongers rose by 17 per cent in first quarter, with police saying those with investment history are more vulnerable.

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A survey by Hong Kong police has found that elderly people who are more educated and have investment experience are more vulnerable to investment scams. Photo: Jelly Tse
Crime in Hong Kong

She answered an advert for a part-time helper. Then she lost HK$2.25 million

Hong Kong woman, 25, describes how her job search led her to sign documents helping ‘lawyer’ for a ‘big shot’ and take out string of loans.

Crime in Hong Kong

Opinion | My finance expertise was no defence against online scammers

Perpetrators of online fraud are enabled by new technology and connectivity, meaning everyone must be on their guard.

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The Philippines

Can Philippines’ new anti-Pogo playbook rein in fast-moving scam hubs?

The new inter-agency rules aim to give investigators a framework tailored to Pogo-linked crime and support a coordinated response.

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A closed Philippine online gaming operator (Pogo) hub inside the former Island Cove resort in Kawit, Cavite province in December 2024. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Video | Why Malaysian-Indians are less likely to be scammed

Arrested scammers told police in Penang that Malaysian-Indians were toughest to deceive.

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Law Society closes firm linked to crash-for-cash scam

Society’s council intervenes in the practice of Raymond Lam & Associates, which will cease operations with immediate effect.

Malaysia

‘Barrage of questions’: Malaysian Indians least likely to be scammed, police say

Despite all races being equally targeted, ethnic Indians lost the least because they would keep questioning until the scammers gave up.

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Little India in Kuala Lumpur. Ethnic Indians account for about 7 per cent of Malaysia’s population. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong courts

Brokerage clerk admits helping syndicate defraud employer of HK$31 million

Wong Pui-shan approved withdrawals from company accounts after being contacted by man claiming she was subject of Beijing national security office probe.

Hong Kong’s High Court building in Admiralty. Photo: Sun Yeung
Thailand

Thailand to extradite Indonesian man in US$10 million scam targeting Americans

The suspect allegedly hired models to lure targets into phoney investment schemes over video calls, dating apps and social media.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Editorial | Gold scams are a reminder that crime prevention must keep up

The city’s anti-scam work must continue to evolve as scammers exploit new vulnerabilities with AI and seemingly limitless imagination.

Cambodia

US slaps sanctions on Cambodian senator suspected of controlling scam centres

The sanction freezes all US assets linked to Senator Kok An and his named associates, and bars any American national from dealing with them.

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Equipment used at a scam centre in Phnom Penh in March. This year Cambodia has conducted the largest crackdown on scam bases since the crisis emerged during the pandemic. Photo: AP
Chinese history

Inside the 14k, the Hong Kong triad that went global

From its roots in mainland China to expansion in Hong Kong and beyond, we look at the history of one of the most notorious triad societies.

Police arrest suspected 14K triad members at a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, in 1995. The 14K began life as an openly pro-Kuomintang society in mainland China before becoming a global criminal organisation based in Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP
The Philippines

This retiree in the Philippines downloaded an app. Then he lost his life savings

Industrial-scale malware is replacing ‘pig-butchering’ as Cambodia’s scam hubs pivot to high-speed digital heists.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 9 over HK$1.7 million in fake travel insurance claims

Syndicate allegedly faked overseas accidents with forged documents to claim payouts from insurers without ever leaving the city.

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Malaysia

How an alleged Malaysian scammer vanished with US$25 billion in life savings

More than 300 ­foreign nationals flock to Malaysia in pursuit of justice over the ‘High Inspirations’ scam.

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Investors worldwide lost billions in an alleged Malaysian scam promising high returns. Photo: Shutterstock
Crime in Hong Kong

Scammers trick students abroad into buying gold in fake money-laundering probes

Hong Kong police say at least nine victims studying in UK, Australia and other countries have fallen prey to the scams.

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Trending in China

China influencer recounts harrowing Cambodia cyber scam plight; live-stream cut short

After her return, Umi tested positive for drugs; doctors suspect her leg pain was from nerve compression due to immobility.

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United States

How a bear costume cost these luxury car insurance scamsters their freedom

A bear-suit scam in California landed three people in jail for faking luxury car damage and seeking US$142,000 in fraudulent insurance claims.

A bear suit is part of the evidence that has been used to convict three people for staged attacks on luxury cars for insurance payouts. Photo: California Department of Insurance/TNS
Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong woman loses HK$4.9 million to bogus online ‘investment experts’

Victim lured by social media advertisement promising high-return stock investments, police say.

Hong Kong recorded 43,212 crimes last year, nearly half of which were deception cases. Photo: Getty Images
Financial crime

Hot tips, cold reality: China targets online stock scams luring novice investors

Crackdown targets social media accounts offering bogus stock tips, paid groups and AI-driven tools amid surge in retail scams.

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Hong Kong taxpayers deserve clarity on Covid-era SME loan scheme

In addition to efforts to secure repayment of defaulted loans, the public should receive an accounting of whether the spending was a good investment.

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong taxpayers face HK$28 billion Covid bad-loan burden from SMEs

Of 67,189 applications approved under government’s Special 100% Loan Guarantee Scheme, 13,231 had defaulted by end of February.

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The SME Financing Guarantee Scheme is managed by HKMC Insurance, a subsidiary of the government-owned Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation. Photo: Nora Tam
Crime in Hong Kong

Hongkonger arrested on suspicion of underage sex and scamming girls of HK$33,000

Suspect told girls they could earn money with ‘compensated dating’, only for him to have sex with them and extract cash using excuses, police say.

According to police, the suspect recruited the girls for “compensated dating” with promises of payments of between HK$30,000 and HK$100,000. Photo: Getty Images
Crime in Hong Kong

Number of phishing cases drops in Hong Kong but victims lose more money

Police urge public to be vigilant after separate exercise finds 13 per cent of workers clicked on phishing email links sent as a test.

Singapore

Singapore drama sparks Malaysian ire over scam hub depiction

Mediacorp defended ‘Highway to Somewhere’ against criticism, saying the show raises scam awareness and highlights Malaysia’s beauty.

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