An elderly local man has reportedly lost approximately 2.029 million patacas in an online stock investment scam after making multiple bank transfers and handing over cash in person, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokeswoman Leong Sok Man said during a regular press conference yesterday.
According to Leong, the victim befriended a woman on a social media platform on September 7. She subsequently persuaded him to invest in online stocks, promising lucrative returns, and sent him a QR code to download an investment application and open an account.
Between September 12 and October 28, the victim made several transfers totalling 575,000 yuan from his mainland Chinese online banking account to a mainland bank account provided by the woman, purportedly for investment purposes, Leong added.
The woman later instructed him to make cash payments instead. Between October 28 and 30, the victim handed over a total of HK$1.3 million to an unidentified Southeast Asian-looking man on a daily basis near his residence in the northern district.
The victim only became suspicious after discussing the investment with his family. He subsequently reported the case to the police, claiming total losses equivalent to about 2.029 million patacas, Leong said.
The case has been transferred to the PJ’s Investigation Department for follow-up.
Judiciary Police (PJ) spokeswoman Leong Sok Man looks on during yesterday’s regular press conference. – Photo: Armindo Neves
