Hongkongers scammed out of HK$705 million in 9 months by phone cheats, with telecoms companies sending out 117,000 alerts daily

In the first nine months of this year, fraudsters have swindled HK$705 million from 2,506 residents of Hong Kong, despite efforts by telecom companies to alert the public. On average, nine individuals fell victim to these scams daily. The 'guess who I am' scam has seen a significant increase, with 1,822 cases reported, surpassing the total for the previous year.

A 71-year-old woman lost her life savings of HK$3. 3 million to a scammer impersonating her son, who claimed he needed money for legal troubles. In response, telecom operators have been sending out millions of alerts to warn subscribers about potential scams. These alerts are particularly targeted at calls coming from outside Hong Kong but disguised with a local number prefix.

The Hong Kong police have noted a 52. 5% rise in deception cases, with online shopping frauds being the most common, followed by phone scams. The authorities are continuously working to combat these scams, which include fake kidnappings and impersonation of officials, in addition to the 'guess who I am' tactic. Despite arrests, the masterminds behind these scams are believed to be operating from outside Hong Kong. The police are also collaborating with various agencies to enhance anti-scam measures and public awareness.