A loan shark syndicate in Hong Kong recruited young people through chat groups to vandalise debtors’ homes with red paint and paid them up to HK$1,000 (US$127) per job, police have said as they arrested 22 people, including key members of the criminal group and four teenagers, on suspicion of illegal lending and intimidation.
In an operation conducted between June 16 and Wednesday, police arrested 19 men and three women, aged between 16 and 62, for 29 cases related to illegal debt collection. The cases involved the loan shark recruiting debt collectors, often youngsters, through agents that used encrypted chat groups.
“It is similar to the operation of a food delivery platform. They will place orders of splashing red paint in the group and indicate the districts involved … Interested group members can then take the order,” Tsang Chun-kit, acting deputy district commander of Tseung Kwan O district, said on Thursday.
Tsang said the agents required individuals to take photos to prove they had completed their job, before paying them HK$500 to HK$1,000 per order.
“This convenient model can attract a lot of young people who wish to make quick money,” Tsang said.
“We caution them against taking part in illegal debt collection activities for making quick money.”
The force said that the loan shark targeted individuals facing economic difficulties, telling them they would not have to submit proof of their income to take out a loan. Five residents took the offer, each borrowing amounts ranging from HK$25,000 to HK$120,000.
