Hong Kong police have arrested a man suspected of posing as a victim of the city’s deadliest fire in decades and scamming nearly HK$20,000 (US$2,600) in financial aid from several social welfare organisations.
The 36-year-old suspect allegedly obtained a copy of a Wang Fuk Court resident’s identity card and used it to successfully apply for an “emergency relief chit”, commonly known as a “victim’s certificate”, issued by the Social Welfare Department. The certificate serves as proof of eligibility for fire victims.
The suspect, who was arrested on Tuesday, would be charged with one count of fraud, two counts of obtaining property by deception and one count of attempting to obtain property by deception, police said.
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“Police strongly denounce criminals who exploited the generosity of social welfare groups during such a major disaster,” Chief Inspector Paul Samra of Tai Po district said.
The man approached two non-governmental social welfare organisations with the certificate and secured a total of HK$13,000 in charity funds between November 29 and last Friday, according to Samra.
He was arrested in an ambush by officers after receiving another HK$5,000 in aid from a third social welfare body in Tai Po.