HK and mainland police bust credit card fraud gang

Hong Kong and mainland police have busted a cross-border credit card fraud syndicate, arresting 33 people involved in scams totalling over 1.8 million Hong Kong dollars.

Hong Kong police noticed an upward trend in fraudulent credit card purchases starting in April.

The syndicate targeted Hong Kong residents spending at popular tourist spots and entertainment venues in Shenzhen.

Members stole their credit cards, returned to Hong Kong to buy expensive smartphones, and resold the goods on the same day before taking the cash back to the Chinese Mainland.

Law enforcement from both sides launched multiple operations over the past two months, arresting 16 suspects in Hong Kong and 17 in Shenzhen.

The suspects, aged between 17 and 56, included massage therapists and waiters.

They were arrested for handling stolen goods, conspiracy to defraud and obtaining property by deception.