Scam-related losses in Hong Kong have declined 25 per cent to HK$2.8 billion (US$357 million) in the first five months of this year, but the number of cases has increased amid an overall drop in crime.

Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming revealed the latest figures at a North District Council meeting on Tuesday, saying the city had recorded 35,888 cases from January to May this year, a 2.8 per cent dip from the same period last year.

But the number relating specifically to scams during the period stood at around 17,000, reflecting an 8.4 per cent year-on-year rise, while total losses dropped by 25 per cent to HK$2.8 billion.

“Among scam cases, those showing a palpable rise included online shopping and employment fraud, while phone scams have also risen,” Chow said.

Scams have been spreading rapidly in Hong Kong over the past few years, with such cases forming nearly half of all the 94,727 criminal ones logged in the city last year.

Chow said the force would continue to work with the banking sector to tackle the use of mule accounts – those set up, borrowed, lent or sold for money-laundering purposes – and use international platforms and cooperate with overseas law enforcement agencies to combat scams.