Hong Kong authorities have arrested a 57-year-old man for allegedly scamming three victims out of HK$310,000 (US$39,500) by pretending to be a police officer or government officials while claiming he could help them buy concert tickets and mobile phones at discounted prices through his contacts.

Police said on Thursday they received reports from two of the three victims last month, who handed over around HK$11,000 to the suspect before losing contact with him. A broader investigation showed the same man had conned another victim out of HK$300,000 last April.

Police apprehended the suspect at a hotel in Hung Hom on Tuesday.

During the arrest, officers seized the clothes he had allegedly worn when committing his crimes, along with five fake foreign passports, five stacks of counterfeit euro banknotes, a few suspected fake gold bars, gold chains, and watches.

A Correctional Services Department hat and three mobile phones were also confiscated.

The suspect was charged with counts of impersonating a police officer, impersonating a public official, obtaining property by deception, possession of counterfeit banknotes and possession of false documents.

The case will be mentioned at Kowloon City Court on Friday.