Hong Kong police target scams targeting mainland students

Hong Kong police have reported a significant rise in sophisticated impersonation scams targeting mainland Chinese students arriving in the city. In the first half of this year, scams involving university students or higher education learners resulted in losses totaling HK$76 million, with mainland students specifically accounting for over HK$75 million across 344 cases.

One recent incident involved a Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) freshman who was targeted within 24 hours of arrival. Scammers posed as Hong Kong Immigration Department and mainland public security officials, using forged arrest warrants and demanding 24-hour video surveillance to isolate the victim through psychological manipulation and sleep deprivation. The student was able to seek help via the ‘Hong Kong Drifter Reporting Room’ WeChat group, allowing police to intervene before any funds were transferred.

To combat these trends, the East Kowloon Regional Crime Prevention Office has implemented proactive measures, including door-to-door visits at student dormitories and the use of dedicated WeChat groups for real-time support. Other initiatives include the ‘Hong Kong Drifter Anti-Scam Ambassador Program’ and outreach efforts in mainland cities like Shanghai to educate prospective students and their families before they relocate to Hong Kong.