Hong Kong police arrest 94 suspects for alleged role in nearly 900 scams during latest crackdown on e-commerce fraud
- Police say suspects were allegedly involved in 892 incidents of e-commerce fraud, which collectively cost victims HK$5.5 million
- Latest operation, which launched on May 15, included arrest of 5 suspects connected with group swindling buyers of video games, concert tickets
Hong Kong police have arrested 94 suspects in connection with nearly 900 incidents of online shopping scams which collectively cost victims about HK$5.5 million (US$700,920).
The force on Thursday also said the number of e-shopping fraud cases reported during the first four months of this year had increased by 36 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Police said the arrests were part of an ongoing operation, codenamed “Iron Warrior”, which launched on May 15. The suspects snared in the crackdown, comprising 67 men and 27 women, aged 14 to 75, were detained on suspicion of deception, obtaining property by deception and money laundering.
Those arrested were allegedly involved in 892 cases and had scammed a total of HK$5.5 million from victims, the force said. The suspects were all released on bail, pending further investigation.
Police added that they believed their latest operation against fraudsters had snared members of a syndicate that swindled about HK$290,000 from 20 victims between November and January by posting adverts for concert tickets and video games.
