The average loss suffered by elderly victims of investment scams in Hong Kong rose by a third year on year to HK$1.08 million (US$137,600) in 2026, the city’s police chief has said, calling for greater community vigilance against syndicates preying on retirees.
Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming on Tuesday also warned of a recent surge in scams involving fraudsters posing as customer service officers, with such cases nearly doubling from last year.
Speaking at the launch of “Anti-fraud Cinema” organised by Standard Chartered Bank, Chow said Hong Kong recorded 29,670 scam cases in the first eight months of this year, a 5 per cent increase over the same period in 2025, accounting for half of all crimes in the city.
He added that 5,119 scams were recorded in August alone, a monthly record high.