Hong Kong Customs Arrests Hobby Shop Owner for Fraudulent Payments and Non-Delivery of Products

Hong Kong Customs arrests sole proprietor of hobby shop

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 7) arrested a hobby shop sole proprietor on suspicion of engaging in wrongly accepting payments in the course of selling hobby products, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

Customs earlier received a number of reports alleging that someone sold hobby products through his/her own online shop, an online marketplace with instant-messaging software, but failed to supply the ordered goods within the specified date or a reasonable period after accepting payments from customers. Also, no refund was offered in a timely manner. As of yesterday, the reports received by Customs involved 13 customers and 276 hobby products, with the total monetary amount involved being about $238,000.

After investigations, Customs officers yesterday arrested a 31-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case. He is the sole proprietor of the hobby shop.

An investigation is ongoing. The arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO. Under the TDO, any trader commits an offence if at the time of acceptance of payment, the trader intends not to supply the product or intends to supply a materially different product, or there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Meanwhile, consumers should make orders through reputable traders. After purchasing the products, consumers should keep the transaction documents, such as records of communication, receipts of payment, etc, as a basis of a complaint in the future.

Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs, Photo source: reference image

Hong Kong Customs seizes live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species

Hong Kong Customs today (July 11) seized five live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, with a total estimated market value of about $50,000.

Through risk assessment, Customs today intercepted an incoming lorry at the control point. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species wrapped by plastics and concealed in socks in the carton box.

The batch of live turtles was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up action.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586), any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.

Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs seizes live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases