Hong Kong, Macau police arrest 16 over credit card fraud in 10-day joint operation
- Five men, two women rounded up in operation across city between December 1 and 10, with police seizing computer, mobile phones and bank cards; nine others in Macau also held
- Arrests made amid 78 per cent rise in deception crimes in Hong Kong this year
Police in Hong Kong and Macau have arrested 16 people over credit card fraud in a 10-day joint operation launched amid a 78 per cent rise locally in such crimes this year.
Hong Kong officers rounded up five men and two women, seizing a computer, mobile phones and bank cards in a series of raids across the city between December 1 and 10.
The seven suspects, aged between 21 and 71, were detained on suspicion of obtaining property by deception and attempting to obtain property by deception – offences punishable by up to 10 years in jail.
In Macau, the other nine people were also held in connection with credit card fraud during the operation.
The arrests were made amid a 78 per cent rise in deception crimes in Hong Kong this year.
Senior Inspector Chow Tsz-kin of the cybersecurity and technology crime bureau said on Wednesday that HK$5.7 million (US$730,490) was connected to the cases involving the 16 suspects, adding the investigation was continuing and further arrests were possible.
