Hong Kong police foil phone scam, save elderly woman from HK$100,000 loss

Hong Kong police have foiled a “guess who I am” phone scam, arresting two mainland Chinese men hired by a fraud syndicate and preventing an elderly woman from losing HK$100,000 (US$12,740).

Chief Inspector Ma Suet-yiu of the force’s Western district on Wednesday said the arrests were made after the 78-year-old woman received a phone call from a scammer impersonating her son on Monday.

The fraudster claimed he was in police custody for a criminal case and asked for HK$100,000 in bail money. He told her that someone would come to her home to collect the cash.

“At first, the victim believed the story. But while preparing the money, she calmed down and grew suspicious. After confirming with her family, she realised it was a scam and immediately contacted police,” Ma said.

Acting on intelligence analysis, officers from Western district’s criminal investigation unit and task force staked out the woman’s home in Sai Wan and arrested two men as they arrived to collect the money.

Ma said the elderly woman did not suffer any monetary losses.