Hong Kong police alert to AI‑driven WhatsApp hijacking scams, HK$10 M loss

In the past two weeks Hong Kong police received more than 150 reports of WhatsApp account hijacking scams, with total losses exceeding HK$26 million. The fraudsters first compromise a victim’s father’s WhatsApp account, then use AI‑generated voice messages that sound strikingly like the father to persuade the son to transfer money via the Faster Payment System. One 31‑year‑old victim living in mainland China lost over HK$10 million as the scammers repeatedly demanded larger sums, eventually emptying his bank account.

Police warned that AI can convincingly imitate familiar voices and urged the public not to rely on voice messages alone. They advised verifying any request for transfers by calling the sender, enabling two‑factor authentication, regularly reviewing linked devices, and reporting suspicious activity to the anti‑fraud hotline (18222) or the cyber‑defence website.