Published: 5:29pm, 14 Aug 2025Updated: 5:36pm, 14 Aug 2025
Hong Kong police have arrested a 53-year-old man suspected of providing his information to a fraud syndicate to create a rented ride-hailing account, following a passenger’s complaint about a driver without a Hong Kong ID card.
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Superintendent Li Muk-yik said on Thursday that it was “extremely despicable behaviour” for the syndicate to be involved in enticing residents to provide their personal information to open accounts on a ride-hailing platform and to arrange for unqualified individuals to illegally provide services to passengers for hire or reward.
The arrest came after a passenger filmed his experience on Monday while calling a ride-hailing service on the Amap platform. A male driver admitted he did not hold any Hong Kong ID card, suggesting he was an illegal worker in the city.
The trip was arranged by a service provider, Universe Call, which on Wednesday said that it had permanently suspended the driver’s account.
Amap is operated by Alibaba Group Holding, the owner of the South China Morning Post.
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“Through an in-depth investigation, police have discovered that the case involved a fraud syndicate that was controlling things from behind,” Li said.