Online shopping has become an integral part of daily life for many Hong Kong residents. However, with its growing popularity comes a rising tide of scams. According to the police, 11,559 online shopping fraud cases were reported in 2023, marking a 29.2% increase compared to the previous year. The total monetary loss soared by 87%, reaching HK$360 million.
Authorities warned that scam cases are expected to increase further with the recent opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park and the rollout of major events such as concerts and sports competitions.
Three Common Online Scam Tactics
Police identified three main types of online shopping scams:
1. Fake Facebook Pages
Fraudsters impersonate well-known retailers by creating high-quality counterfeit pages and promoting fake discounts via paid ads. These fake pages often appear alongside real ones in search results, making it easy for unsuspecting users to fall into the trap. This method accounted for over 40% of all cases last year, involving around HK$60 million losses.
2. Carousell Phishing Links
Scammers post fake listings on online marketplaces like Carousell and lure buyers to phishing sites that mimic payment gateways to steal personal information or money.
3. "Ticket Resale Scams" (a.k.a. Bounce Ticket Scams)
Fraudsters claim to have hard-to-get tickets for concerts or events. They pressure buyers to act quickly, often demanding payment in advance, only to disappear afterward.
Woman Defrauded of Nearly HK$1 Million Over Concert Tickets
One of the most severe cases involved a 40-year-old local woman who was scammed out of nearly HK$1 million between April and May 2023. Initially, she paid HK$300 for a concert ticket via a messaging group but never received it. Later, a person posing as a staff member of an entertainment company offered her discounted bulk ticket deals. Over a month, she made 256 separate payments, falling victim to an elaborately staged scam.
Concert ticket-related scams accounted for over 15% of all online shopping fraud cases last year, with total losses nearing HK$18 million.
Holiday Season Warning from Police
With the Easter holiday and other upcoming festivals, police warned that scammers may exploit the festive season to promote fake travel deals and food packages. Citizens are urged to stay vigilant by:
- Only buying from reputable sellers
- Verifying sellers through phone numbers, bank accounts, and page names
- Avoiding suspicious links
- Never enter personal information on unofficial websites
The police also recommend using the “Scameter+” anti-fraud tool to assess the risk of online transactions in real-time.
(Source: Wen Wei Po)
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