The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said it had received a report that a PhD student who came to Hong Kong to study transferred HK$550,000 after callers claiming to be law-enforcement officers accused them of involvement in money laundering.
The callers said the student’s personal data had been stolen and used in the offence. They supplied forged ICAC documents and told the student to transfer money to a bank account they claimed belonged to ICAC personnel for “funds clearance”.
The student contacted the ICAC several days later and learned they had been scammed. The commission said it has no “funds clearance” process and urged people not to transfer money if asked to do so.
Anyone who suspects someone is impersonating an ICAC officer can call its 24-hour reporting hotline on 25 266 366. Suspected scams can be reported to police or the police hotline on 18222.