Violence, fake photos among debt collector tactics as shady loan firms target Hong Kong helpers

Coalition of Global Home Service Sustainable Development warns about a rising trend in deception cases involving domestic workers

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Employer Paul Chan says his helper was left owing HK$120,000 to loan firms and debt collector threw red paint near his home. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 8:27pm, 9 Jun 2024Updated: 12:12am, 10 Jun 2024

At least 30 Hong Kong employers have sought help after their domestic helpers were deceived into taking out high-interest loans and threatened with violence or sent fake obscene pictures, among other tactics, when they were unable to repay the money, or sometimes, even when they had done so.

The Coalition of Global Home Service Sustainable Development, an NGO focusing on family and helper issues, warned on Sunday about a rising trend in such deception cases after receiving more than 20 inquiries, and new ones every day last week, while learning employment agencies were handling another 10.

“Some cases involve red paint being thrown on employers’ homes and a domestic helper was also beaten up,” coalition president Chrystie Lam Hau-yiu said, adding some received threatening messages and fake obscene photos.

“We have received a massive number of inquiries … We received a few cases per week back in April. In June, we received a few cases every day. Even after the employers made a report with police, the harassment continued.”

Lam said multiple online loan companies, including one based overseas, deceived helpers into submitting personal details and their employers’ particulars for “loan consultations” and receiving prizes such as smartphones.

Coalition president Chrystie Lam (third left) and lawmaker Edward Leung (fourth left) join a press conference on Sunday warning about the latest scam. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The scammers then transferred the money into the workers’ bank accounts – without signing loan agreements – and demanded they return it in two weeks with high interest rates and surcharges.