Hong Kong police have arrested 20 people over a series of fraud cases in which a 19-year-old college student allegedly led a gang posing as mainland secret agents to swindle victims out of more than HK$2 million (US$257,000).
Cheung Wai-shan, chief inspector of the force’s regional crime unit in Western district, said on Wednesday that the group – 16 men and four women aged between 11 and 84 – were arrested during a two-day operation earlier this week for various offences, including money laundering, fraud and wasting police resources.
Among the crimes were five impersonation scams believed to have been led by the 19-year-old.
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“Police received reports from victims who received calls from scammers claiming to be secret mainland agents between June and December this year,” Cheung said.
“The victims were accused of being involved in mainland economic crimes and were instructed to hand over funds to the suspect claiming to be a special agent. Five victims paid a total of over HK$1.5 million in cash.”
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Cheung said the 19-year-old mastermind was arrested in Tsz Wan Shan on Tuesday. He had initially admitted to the offences and was being detained for further investigation, she added.
