Cross-border credit card fraud syndicate busted

Hong Kong police, in cooperation with security forces in the mainland, arrested 33 people for their roles in a cross-border credit card fraud syndicate. During the operation, officers seized a large amount of cash, multiple credit cards and smartphones.

Police said the syndicate has been operating since April, targeting Hong Kong residents who spend in Shenzhen. They stole credit cards to make purchases, involving at least 60 cases and over 1.8 million Hong Kong dollars. The largest single case involved 110,000 dollars.

Regional Technology and Financial Crime Unit Chief Inspector Fung Chi-tat said the victims usually visited popular tourist spots in Shenzhen, and only realised their cards had been stolen after receiving bank notifications of unusually large transactions.

The syndicate had a clear division of labour. The mastermind recruited pickpockets and card handlers, using hotels near the border as gathering points.

After stealing the cards, pickpockets would pass them to supervisors, who would transfer the cards back to Hong Kong.

Card handslers then used the stolen cards to buy expensive smartphones and sell for cash.

They then brought the illegal proceeds back to Shenzhen. Over the past two months, authorities raided multiple locations and arrested 16 people in Hong Kong and 17 in Shenzhen.

The suspects, aged 17 to 56, included eight Hong Kong residents and 25 people from the Chinese Mainland.

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

Police urged the public to keep their belongings safe and report the loss of their cards immediately if they notice any suspicious transactions.