Hong Kong Police Chief Issues Stark Warning to New Students as Scammers Steal Over HK$235 Million

To increase the awareness of preventing scams, New Territories South Regional Police designed a letter from Commissioner of Police. The letter was first issued to students studying in Hong Kong and their parents during New Parent Day Event held by CUHK in August last year, remindering the prevention of scam and sharing some useful tips.

This year, HKPF will promote this letter to all universities in Hong Kong, and will also be issued to students through the Mainland Study Abroad Service Center.

The English version of the letter issued by Hong Kong Police.

The English version of the letter issued by Hong Kong Police, with the signature and photo of Commissioner of Police.

The letter issued this time has added Simplified Chinese version and English version, with the signature and photo of Commissioner of Police, Chow Yat-ming (Joe), introducing the common features of scams and ways of seeking help, helping students and their parents stay away from scams.

Chow Yat-ming first extends a warm welcome to students and their families for studying in Hong Kong in the letter. He also introduces the data from HKPF that there were 44,480 cases of scams in Hong Kong alone last year, with nearly HK$9.15 billion lost.

He points out in the letter that scammers always prey upon international students' limited knowledge of local judicial processes and their inherent trust in governmental bodies. Last year, there were 327 cases of telephone deception involving post-secondary mainland students in Hong Kong, of which 318 cases resulted in monetary losses, amounting to $235.5 million.

Chow Yat-ming also introduces different common scenarios of scams including Impersonation of Law Enforcement, Online Shopping Scams, Employment Fraud: “Click Farm”, Impersonating Customer Services Scam, Investment Fraud and Impersonating Friends/Family.

At the end of the letter, Chow Yat-ming reminds students and their families that if any of them encounters these situations or has doubts about a transaction, they should call 18222 to contact the HKPF’s Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC) for assistance.

Commissioner of Police, Chow Yat-ming.

At a noodle shop in Sheung Shui, a 32-year-old female customer brandished a kitchen knife to intimidate staff. The police arrived and subdued her. Accused of possessing an offensive weapon, causing criminal damage, and assaulting police officers, she has been arrested and is currently under investigation.

Photo source: Threads@keiyiiii

The location of the incident is No. 33, Lung Sum Avenue. At around 12:00 midnight, the police received a report and arrived at the scene. During the time, an emotionally agitated woman refused to cooperate with the police and waved a kitchen knife about 30 centimeters long. The police officer used a pepper spray dispenser, which hit her right forearm to subdue the woman. After that, she was sent to the North District Hospital while conscious for treatment.

Photo source: Threads@keiyiiii

Allegedly, the arrested woman is surnamed Liu (32 years old), and she came to Hong Kong with a two-way exit permit. After the police conducted an initial investigation, they found that the incident occurred because the woman had a dispute with a staff member over a trivial matter. During their quarreling, the woman used the kitchen knife to damage the phone of the noodle restaurant.

Photo source: Threads@keiyiiii

The arrested woman was injured in her hand and was sent to the hospital for treatment. It is said that the woman has already suffered from emotional distress. Due to some payment problems at the noodle restaurant, she lost control and rushed into the kitchen of the restaurant to take out a knife, making the restaurant's owner call the police for help.