A 21-year-old woman has been arrested in Hong Kong over her suspected involvement in eight phone scams impersonating officials, which resulted in losses of HK$3.7 million (US$471,343).
The force said on Friday that the woman was apprehended in Ngau Tau Kok two days ago on suspicion of obtaining property by deception after a fake police warrant card was found in her possession.
She is currently being held for questioning.
According to police, the suspect was believed to have been involved in eight scam cases in June by posing as officials. Victims, aged between 24 and 42, suffered losses ranging from HK$320,000 to more than HK$2.8 million – HK$3.7 million in total.
“After searching her residence, police discovered seven confidentiality agreements … Investigations suggest the arrested woman might have been lured into preparing these confidentiality agreements and handling illicit funds for the scam syndicate in exchange for payment,” the force said.
It also said that it had been closely monitoring scams, in which fraudsters pose as officials.
