Impersonating an Official｜A 19-Year-Old Youth Posed as a Mainland Law Enforcement Officer, Making “Accidental” Phone Calls That Exposed State Secrets, Scaring Five Women into Paying 8.2 Million Yuan to Prove Their Innocence

A 19-year-old man was arrested for allegedly impersonating an official to carry out scams. Police announced today (1st) that last month’s 22nd, they received a report from one of the victims, who said he had received an unknown call. During the call, the caller claimed to be a law enforcement officer from the Mainland, accused the victim of involvement in criminal activities in the Mainland, demanded that the victim sign a confidentiality agreement, and requested a deposit. After investigation, police further revealed that the man involved was also linked to four other cases of “impersonating officials,” with the total amount involved reaching as much as HK$8.2 million.

▲ Police seized the so-called “work ID” involved in the case. (Provided by police)

Scammers impersonated Mainland special task officers, claiming a deposit was needed to prove innocence

Senior Inspector Feng Tat-yan of the New Territories North Regional Technology and Wealth Crime Unit said they previously received a report from a 65-year-old woman. She said she received a call claiming she was involved in criminal offenses in the Mainland, demanding that she submit a deposit to prove her innocence, and instructing her to go to a specific location to collect a phone and follow-up instructions from a “special agent investigator.” She was then told to hand over the funds to that “special agent investigator.”

Police, through the “Sharp Eye Project,” reviewed a large volume of CCTV footage and successfully identified a male suspect’s identity. On the 29th of last month, they arrested a man in Kwun Tong for the offense of “obtaining property by deception,” and during the search of his residence, police seized a “security assistant” work ID. The document stated that it was “special task duty” under the “Shanghai Municipal People’s Procuratorate,” and they also seized a computer and a photocopier believed to have been used to prepare a “confidentiality agreement.” In addition, another unit also seized a “special case document” bearing a “procuratorate” seal, stating that the victim had committed offenses including “leaking state secrets” and “passing information to the enemy.”

▲ Police seized the so-called “case documents” involved. (Provided by police)

In the same case, four female victims did not know they were scammed and did not report to police

After investigation, police also uncovered that four other female victims had been scammed in the same way. All of them have retired, aged between 67 and 74. Because they did not know they were being scammed, they did not report to the police. One of them even followed the scammers to the Mainland to withdraw cash and hand it over to the scammers, and some others had prepared to transfer additional money. After police intervention, about HK$630,000 in criminal proceeds was successfully intercepted. The arrested young man will be charged with one count of “conspiracy to defraud,” and the case will be brought before the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts for mention tomorrow morning (2nd).

Police reiterated that whether it is local or Mainland law enforcement personnel, they will never ask members of the public to sign a confidentiality agreement, hand over cash, or make any transfers/remittances. Even if the scammers appear neatly dressed, act professionally, and present forged official documents or appointment letters when meeting, members of the public should not trust them easily and should verify and check thoroughly.

Anti-scam “Three Nos” Principle

• Do not answer suspicious calls

• Do not easily believe what the other party says

• Do not easily transfer money to strangers

If you have any doubts, you may call the police Anti-Scam Hotline “18222” to make inquiries.

Police emphasized that “obtaining property by deception” is a very serious offense. Once convicted, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for 10 years. Members of the public must not break the law due to momentary greed or be lured into it by people with ill intent.