Police have arrested an 18-year-old man after an 89-year-old woman handed over HK$100,000 to a caller who claimed her grandson had been arrested and needed bail. The man was arrested in Sheung Shui on October 6 on suspicion of obtaining property by deception and remains detained for investigation.
The woman reported the suspected fraud on September 21. She told police that the caller had contacted her that afternoon, said her grandson was involved in a criminal case and demanded the money as bail. The caller then arranged to collect it in the Sau Mau Ping area.
After handing over the money, the woman contacted her grandson directly to check the claim. She suspected she had been defrauded and sought police help.
Police advised people who receive calls from unknown sources claiming that a relative urgently needs a large sum to check the request with other relatives. Government departments do not proactively ask members of the public for security or bail payments, police said, and do not arrange for money to be handed over or collected at post offices, on streets or in other public places. Anyone with concerns can call the police anti-fraud hotline on 18222.