University of Hong Kong student loses HK$9.2 million in phone scam

A student at the University of Hong Kong has become the latest victim of a phone scam after she was cheated out of HK$9.2 million (US$1.1 million), the Post has learned.

A source said on Friday the mainland Chinese woman fell victim to the scam and that police were searching for two fraudsters.

Last month, the force said it had arrested 154 people in a three-week crackdown on fraudsters who used internet and phone scams to cheat victims out of more than HK$280 million.

During the operation, officers detained the 119 men and 35 women, aged 15 to 72, on suspicion of obtaining property by deception, money laundering and fraud offences. Phone scams have been on the rise since May of last year.