Burst
Written by: Lu Jiayu Wang Yiyang
2020-02-01 17:46
Last updated: 2020-02-01 21:03The number of confirmed cases of new coronaviruses continues to rise. There is a surge in mask purchases in Hong Kong. The market is “hard to find.” Many people order masks online, but some scammers have taken the opportunity to cheat their money. The police have so far received 29 fraud cases related to online shopping masks, involving a total amount of about 300,000 yuan. Among them, the police arrested a 16-year-old unemployed man and a 24-year-old woman in Tai Po District and Tin Shui Wai District respectively.
Police pointed out that from time to time, real sellers were unable to ship on time due to tight supplies, and the incident became a commercial dispute. They called on the public to choose a reliable online platform for shopping.
Qiu Yuxing, Chief Inspector (Investigation) of the Kowloon City Police District, said that the police received a report of nine victims in January, saying that someone had sold goods, including televisions, medical masks, on the online platform for less than the market price. Or "Fast Transfer" transfer payment, found that the goods could not be received, the seller also lost contact, the case involved an amount of 15,000 yuan. After a police investigation, a 16-year-old unemployed man was arrested in a residential building in Dapu District early this morning (1st) as the account holder of the case. He was suspected of obtaining property by deception. Computers and telephones were seized during the operation.
In addition, Mong Kok Police District also received reports from 127 local victims last night (31st). Ms. Wang Hao, Acting Chief Inspector (Criminal) of Mong Kok Police District, said the victims said that there were different posts on social media for selling medical masks, each box 50 RMB. The victim deposited the money into a local account designated by the fraudster, ranging from 500 yuan to 2,000 yuan, with a total amount of about 150,000 yuan. Later, he found that he could not be deceived without receiving a mask. Police arrested a 24-year-old woman in Tianshuiwei last night for allegedly obtaining benefits by deception. The woman was the bank account holder involved in the case.
Xiao Zhenglian, Chief Inspector of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Investigation Division, noted that people have recently released masks from different social media outlets, and believe that there may be an upward trend in online shopping mask fraud. As of today, the police have received a total of 29 fraud cases related to online shopping masks. The victims' losses ranged from 200 yuan to 50,000 yuan, a total of about 300,000. Xiao said that if the case involves criminal elements, the police will conduct a full investigation, but according to experience, from time to time, real sellers fail to ship on time due to tight supplies, and the incident becomes a commercial dispute. The police appeal to the public to choose a reliable online platform, such as Online platforms with long and successful purchase experience. Xiao Zhenglian also pointed out that the Cybercrime Section made a central co-ordination of online shopping mask fraud, coordinated work with different investigative units, expedited intelligence collection and analysis, and hoped to combat fraud more effectively.
The police understand that citizens are "easy to get a lot of money, and masks are hard to find." Scammers have the relevant mentality to deceive, and their behavior is not only illegal but shameless. The Eastern District Police District Criminal Investigation Team has also arrested another scammer in a case of online shopping mask fraud. The police will spare no effort to fight related crimes, and also said that the government has said earlier that the supply of masks will increase in the short term. The shortage is a short-term phenomenon. Need to panic to buy masks.
Frauds jailed up to 10 years
The police allege that under the laws of Hong Kong, fraud has violated section 17 of the Theft Ordinance, Chapter 210 of the Laws of Hong Kong, "the crime of obtaining property by deception" and the maximum penalty is 10 years' imprisonment. Police reiterated that money laundering was a serious crime and reminded members of the public not to lend private accounts for suspicious purposes. Lending a bank account for unlawful use by another person may be an offence under section 25 of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, Chapter 455 of the Laws of Hong Kong, "Handling property which is known or believed to represent a benefit from an indictable offence", The maximum penalty is a fine of 5 million yuan and 14 years in prison.
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