Burst
Written by: Zhu Yashuang and Chen Haoran
2021-04-27 17:57
Last update date: 2021-04-27 17:58
Some closed roads in Hong Kong require a permit issued by the Transport Department to allow vehicles to drive. Some criminal groups have posted on social media since September last year, falsely claiming to provide one-stop agency services, asking prices between 6,000 and more than 10,000 yuan to trick victims After purchasing the "Lantau Closed Road Permit" (commonly known as the "Prohibited Area Paper"), he went missing and even threatened further remittances with the victim's personal data.
After receiving the investigation, the police arrested 5 people yesterday and today, including 3 key members, involved in 17 fraud cases involving a total of 128,000 yuan. The victims included businessmen, accountants, engineers, etc.
In addition, the police believed that they were involved in other fraud and money laundering activities based on the "puppet account" accounts of the criminal syndicate. They have laundered more than 5.5 million yuan in the past six months.
Dai Zibin (middle), Chief Inspector of the Technology Crime Division of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Investigation Bureau, stated that the police successfully arrested 3 men and 2 women on suspicion of "obtaining property by deception", "extortion" and "money laundering" (photo by Chen Haoran)
Dai Zibin, Chief Inspector of the Technology Crime Section of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Investigation Bureau, said that if vehicles want to enter or exit the closed roads on Lantau, they must apply to the Transport Department for a restricted zone permit.
The police received multiple reports earlier that between September last year and February this year, scammers falsely claimed on social media that they provided one-stop agency services to trick victims into purchasing permits for the section of road, and when the victims remit and transfer money After arriving at the designated bank account, the scammer will disappear, or even use the victim's personal information to threaten to send money further, otherwise they will be harmed.
After in-depth investigation and analysis, the Cybercrime Division successfully identified an active criminal group in Hong Kong, and launched an arrest operation yesterday and today (26-27), successfully arresting 3 men and 2 women, including 3 key members, some of them have Triad background, they are between 28 and 39 years old and are suspected of "acquiring property by deception", "extortion" and "handling property known or believed to represent the proceeds of an indictable crime" (commonly known as money laundering).
During the operation, the police seized a total of 7 smart phones and mobile devices, and 5 bank withdrawal cards.
For vehicles to enter or exit the closed roads on Lantau Island, they must apply for a restricted zone permit from the Transport Department.
(Information Picture/Photographed by Liang Mingkang)
According to the investigation at this stage, the group is involved in 17 fraud cases with a loss of about 128,000 yuan. They charged the victims between 6,000 and more than 10,000 yuan. The victims included businessmen, accountants, construction workers, engineers, and drivers, with the highest amount being victimized. The man is a 54-year-old construction worker. After transferring RMB 11,100, he suspected that he was deceived.
Dai Zibin pointed out that the group also accepts "puppet accounts" for collecting and transferring fraudulent funds. According to the accounts, the police believe that in addition to prohibited paper frauds, the group is also involved in other fraud cases such as online shopping compilation and money laundering activities. It is believed that over 5.5 million yuan has been cleaned in the past six months.
Police investigations and operations continue, and it is not ruled out that more people have been arrested.
The police believe that the arrest operation has successfully dismantled an active local criminal syndicate.
Dai Zibin urged that if you suspect that you have encountered the same type of scam since September last year, or you have been scammed online, you should keep a record of your communication with the other party and call the police’s "Easy fraud prevention" hotline "18222" or call the police for help immediately.
In addition, members of the public are not allowed to resell, transfer or lend personal accounts or any financial accounts to others, or collect and transfer funds on behalf of others. Funds from unknown sources may be related to crimes and the handling of these funds may be a crime of "money laundering" , The consequences are serious.
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