Another HKU student falls victim to phone scam, losing HK$1.8 mn

Today (Jan. 21), police reported a case involving a 22-year-old mainland student at the University of Hong Kong, who fell victim to a phone scam, resulting in a loss of approximately HK$1.8 million.

According to police, the victim received a call in August 2023 from someone posing as an Immigration Department officer, claiming she was involved in a case in Nanning, China, and needed to verify her assets. The caller instructed her to open a bank account at a specified bank, threatening arrest if she did not comply.

Believing the scammer, the victim followed the instructions and transferred a deposit to prove her innocence. Between Dec. 30, 2024, and Jan. 17, 2025, she made a total of six transfers amounting to around HK$1.8 million to a local Faster Payment System account designated by the scammer. After the scammer cut off communication, the victim realized she had been deceived and reported the incident to the police.

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