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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.
Blackpink’s two scheduled concerts next January will mark the finale of the K-pop group’s world tour. Photo: Getty Images
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

Trending in China

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

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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Trending in China

Paralysed Chinese woman falls for ‘doctor’ in rehab, he flees with US$420,000 loan

Wheelchair-using woman meets ‘surgeon’ on social media during recovery from car accident, has baby, he vanishes.

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A paralysed woman in China fell for a “doctor” during her rehabilitation who then disappeared with a US$420,000 loan she took out for him. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
Japan

As Japan’s rice prices soar, scammers cash in on hunger for cheap deals

Complaints related to scam websites claiming to sell the staple at heavily discounted prices have spiked since March.

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police receive over 40 reports of scams on Carousell in a week

Fraudsters use phishing links to cheat victims of HK$4.6 million, including seller of lozenges who lost nearly HK$650,000.

Trending in China

Chinese man invests in cattle online for profit, US$140,000 ends up as beef

10,000 people sink cash into ‘international’ cattle-raising business, which police say is a US$70 million scam.

About 2,000 individuals in China pumped cash into a cattle-raising business online and found that the only form in which they could get a return on their investment was beef, sparking a police probe. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong policeman admits hiding debts to cheat credit union out of HK$280,000

Traffic officer says his divorce, custody battle with his ex-wife had clouded his judgment.

A traffic officer has pleaded guilty to a count of fraud and an attempted charge of the same offence for providing inaccurate and incomplete information to the Hong Kong Police Credit Union. Photo: Winson Wong
Malaysia

Malaysia’s home minister ridiculed after his WhatsApp account hacked

Critics question how Saifuddin Nasution can keep the country safe if he cannot even secure his own phone.

Trending in China

‘Blinded by love’ Chinese man spends most of US$4.5 million ill-gotten gains on lover

Police accuse ‘calculating’ yet frugal-living suspect of carrying out crime spree that had more than 70 victims.

Viral stories

Elderly Japanese woman loses US$345,000 in scam, joins gang who were ‘kind’ to her

Fleeced 72-year-old develops Stockholm syndrome after being conned by gang, decides to help fraudsters commit more crime.

An elderly Japanese woman who lost US$345,000 to fraudsters decided join the gang who fleeced her because they had been “kind” to her. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
Cambodia

Cambodia is home to world’s most powerful criminal network: report

The network’s illegal activities threaten global economic and political stability, says Jacob Sims, a transnational crime expert.

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Scam suspects escorted by Chinese police officers in a flight from Cambodia last year. Photo: Xinhua
China’s crackdowns

China’s internet watchdog cracks down on false financial claims, stock touting

Top cybersecurity agency shuts down more than a dozen social media accounts amid growing concerns over finance influencers.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 9 in connection with HK$140,000 internship subsidy scam

Suspects comprise eight university students and alleged mastermind, who registered as company director.

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