17 arrested over alleged fraud activities, including 13 Malaysians

Police arrest 17 people on suspicion of conspiring to defraud, including 13 Malaysians who were recruited overseas by the fraud syndicate.

In the operation, the police seized 3.67 million dollars after raiding three locations ran by the syndicate in Mong Kok. Investigation shows the syndicate hired Malaysians to come to Hong Kong to take part in its scamming activities. Their role was to collect money from the elderly, who received calls from the group, claiming their family members or friends had been arrested by the police and needed cash. The police caught 12 of them during an arrest.

The police says the group collected a total of 4.67 million dollars from three Mong Kok sites, including a virtual currency exchange centre and currency exchange shop, between June and Friday. On Friday, authorities arrested five suspects: four were locals acting as the sites' operators and staff, while the other person ran errands.

The force says they have noticed some currency exchange shops may be used by syndicates for handling scam fund. It reminds operators to pay attention to any suspicious cash or virtual currency transactions, and report it to authorities in accordance with regulations.