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Hong Kong police have arrested eight people in an operation targeting a criminal syndicate using bounced cheques and screenshots of forged money transfers to scam merchants.
Tam Tsz-wai, chief inspector of the force’s regional crime unit in New Territories North, said on Saturday the syndicate was behind 20 cases involving a total of HK$2.4 million (US$308,300).
The scammers would approach companies asking for help to make purchases from designated suppliers, which were also run by the syndicate and became unreachable after the businesses were duped into transferring money, according to the force.
“Scammers would pretend to be customers and contact different stores, where they would claim to need someone to help them order some products, such as mattresses, wheelchairs and red wine,” Tam said.
“Besides offering a high sales commission to these companies, they would also use some dishonoured cheques or forged screenshots of money transfers to prove to merchants that they have paid for their goods.”
The force said officers zeroed in on the syndicate after months of investigation and intelligence analysis. On Thursday and Friday, officers arrested eight members of the group – six men and two women aged between 29 and 52.