Hong Kong police have arrested a 43-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man after linking two alleged street scams that cost victims more than HK$900,000. In the latest case, reported to police on 19 October, a Tuen Mun resident said a woman approached him and asked for a small cash loan, claiming she needed to pay a locksmith.
Police said the woman then sought larger loans through online banking and claimed she needed the victim’s personal details to register the locksmith service. He was persuaded to hand over his identity card, credit card, Octopus card and ATM card. He later found unexplained large transfers from his bank account and records of credit-card misuse, and reported the matter to police.
Police linked the case to a similar one from October 2025. The arrests were made on 22 October. Ming Pao reported that the woman was suspected of obtaining property by deception and money laundering, while the man was suspected of providing an account for money laundering.
Police advised the public to be wary of strangers asking for money or transfers, and not to hand over identity or payment cards.