Editorial | Concerted effort will be required to fight scamming scourge in Hong Kong
Offences, often involving international gangs, are difficult to combat and Hong Kong must ensure it remains one of the world’s safest cities
The prevalence, scale and complexity of scams targeting Hong Kong people have become an epidemic requiring concerted action on all fronts.
Police investigated more than 44,000 deception cases last year, making up almost half of all crime in the city. These offences, often involving international syndicates, are difficult to combat. The detection rate was only 10.6 per cent.
Losses resulting from financial fraud were a staggering HK$9.15 billion in 2024. The need to step up efforts to prevent such crimes and bring culprits to justice is evident.
New Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming has rightly made tackling scams one of his priorities. He has promised to work with various sectors, increase international cooperation and enhance public awareness.
The cross-border nature of many scams, a global problem, makes close cooperation with mainland authorities and international law-enforcement organisations essential.
Public awareness of the risks is increasing, but vigilance needs to be constant, especially as the scams are ever-changing.
The responsibility for preventing them and exposing the scammers does not lie only with the police. There is clearly a need for the force to engage more with other sectors, especially the finance industry.