Anti-scam event draws attention to crimes ensnaring OFWs

 

 

Police Deputy Comm Chow Yat-ming addresses the anti-scam event

A two-day Anti-Scam Carnival which ended today at the West Kowloon Cultural District has shone a spotlight on what has accounted for almost half of all crimes in Hong Kong, and has ensnared a growing number of Filipinos who ended up being imprisoned for money laundering.

Chow Yat-ming, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), said Police recorded 36,405 fraud cases as of October 2024, accounting for 46.3 per cent of the total crimes. The monetary loss involved reached $7.04 billion during the period, he added.

Accompanying the rise in scams was the increase in money laundering cases by nearly 60 per cent as of October 2024, compared with the same period of 2023.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Chow reminded the public to pay attention to anti-money laundering messages from Police, safeguard their personal accounts, and never rent, lend or sell their bank accounts or e-wallets the third parties.

He urged them to stay vigilant against deception, support Police anti-scam campaigns and share scam prevention information with friends and family to collectively guard against scams.

The public has been receptive to the campaign, as downloads of the mobile application Scameter+ has exceeded 840 000, with an increase of 47 per cent this year.

PINDUTIN DITO

Such public involvement in avoiding scams is matched by Police collaboration with various sectors to comprehensively combat scammers.

For instance, since November 2023, Police have worked with the banking industry to implement several measures including the Suspicious Account Alert system, which extended its coverage to include online banking, e-wallets, and bank counter transactions starting from August this year.

This month, the third phase of the system was rolled out to cover automated teller machines (ATMs), offering the public a more comprehensive protection.

The Anti-Scam Carnival was organized by the Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB), the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) and the Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (FIIB) of the Hong Kong Police Force held the Anti-Scam Carnival at the West Kowloon Cultural District to increase public awareness of scam, money laundering and cyber threats through thematic game booths, as well as various music, dance and magic performance.

Basahin ang detalye!

Also officiating at the ceremony were the Director of Crime and Security, Yip Wan-lung; the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime), Chung Wing-man; the Chief Superintendent of FIIB, Ms Cheng Lai-ki; the Chief Superintendent of CCB, Yau Kin-hung; and the Chief Superintendent of CSTCB, Lam Cheuk-ho.

In the award presentation of the Anti-Scam of Lucky Draw organised by the CSTCB, attracting over 1.8 million participants, the grand prize winner received an electric vehicle.

To report any scam to police, go to: https://www2.erc.police.gov.hk/cmiserc/EGIS-HK-Web_NEW_UI/ereport_details