Hong Kong police arrested a 14-year-old boy on Friday for allegedly collecting HK$554,000 (US$71,235) from three elderly residents in a phone scam, where victims were deceived into paying bail money to secure their sons’ release.
The teen, suspected of conspiracy to obtain services by deception, was reportedly part of a scheme involving fraudsters posing as lawyers who contacted victims between October 24 and 28, claiming their sons were detained in criminal cases and required bail. The victims, aged 75 to 84, handed over cash directly to the student near their homes.
Inspector Leung Cheuk-hang of the Western District investigation team stated that the scammers used a “guess-who-I-am” tactic. Swindlers called victims, asked them to guess their identity, and then used the suggested names to build trust and request money.
Despite the student receiving no personal reward from the scheme’s organizers, police plan to request enhanced sentencing due to the gravity of the offense. The arrest was part of a broader initiative to crack down on deception and money laundering.
Inspector Leung emphasized that some criminals exploit young people for such activities, an act police are committed to combating. Authorities will investigate potential links to other cases and seek strict sentencing for the young suspect.
The maximum sentence in Hong Kong for obtaining property by deception is 10 years in prison. Inspector Leung urged parents and teachers to monitor their children closely and discourage any pursuit of quick money through illegal means.