Number of phishing fraud cases and losses sees decreases last lear: Tang Ping-keung
The number of phishing fraud cases reported to the police last year (2024) decreased by 36.6% compared to the previous year (2023), with a 49.2% reduction in the number of losses, Secretary of Security Tang Ping-keung said today (Jan. 15).
Tang disclosed that the police received 4,322 reports of phishing fraud cases in the previous year, with losses totaling HK$102.40 million; whereas from January to November last year, the police received 2,580 reports of phishing fraud cases, a decrease of 1,488 cases compared to the same period the previous year (4068 cases), representing a 36.6% drop. The losses last year amounted to HK$49.60 million, a decrease of HK$48.10 million compared to the same period the previous year (HK$97.70 million), reflecting a 49.2% reduction.
Tang mentioned that the police carried out a total of 5 large-scale enforcement operations in 2023 and 2024, successfully dismantling multiple fraud syndicates involving over 900 cases. A total of 54 individuals were arrested in both locations, with 49 arrests made in Hong Kong. The arrested individuals were suspected of conspiracy to commit fraud, using false documents, and money laundering, and were involved in transactions exceeding HK$68.86 million. The operations also led to the seizure of numerous telephone cards and related computer equipment used by tens of thousands of victims for fraudulent activities.
Regarding fraudulent phone calls, Tang indicated that the police provide information on suspected fraudulent phone numbers and website data to telecommunication companies, who then block these numbers and websites based on the police's records. By the end of November 2024, telecommunications companies successfully intercepted about 25,100 fraudulent webpage links and blocked or stopped over 8,000 local phone numbers involved in fraudulent activities based on police requests.
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