Why Hongkongers are easy prey for a new breed of con artist

Whether they’re seeking love online or just looking for ways to make a quick profit, more and more people are falling victim to various scams

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Experts fear that new forms of communication via the internet are making Hongkongers particularly vulnerable to deception. Photo: Thomas Yau

Published: 8:03am, 9 Aug 2017Updated: 10:02am, 9 Aug 2017

Few can resist the lure of a good deal, an easy profit, and Hongkongers pride themselves on having a keen eye for a bargain.

Yet while everyone knows the danger of internet and phone crime, barely a week goes by without another high-profile scam being reported, from the recent case of a 23-year-old woman duped by fake immigration officers into handing over her parents’ HK$1 million life savings, to lonely hearts looking for relationships online but ending up being swindled by phoney lovers.

Foreign syndicates behind surge in online romance scams targeting Hongkongers

The rising number of deceptions – up 5.7 per cent in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2016 – is in stark contrast to Hong Kong’s overall picture, with recorded crimes hitting a 38-year low during the first six months of this year.

Given the widespread publicity around scams, why do Hongkongers keep falling for them?

According to Ben Yates, a senior associate in Hong Kong with international law firm RPC, the lack of viable investment options has made the city a hot spot for con artists.

A Hong Kong police campaign warning people against telephone deception. Photo: David Wong

He said people who were unable to afford property and had been turned off by the low yields on investments were particularly susceptible. Yates also thought the way some Hongkongers used apps like WhatsApp for both personal and business matters made them more vulnerable.