Latest news with #HKPF
AsiaOne
18-06-2025
- AsiaOne
11 arrested in joint operation by Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia police against scam syndicate, Singapore News
A joint operation targeting a transnational scam syndicate saw the arrest of 11 individuals aged between 24 and 48 across Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The operation, which took place from April to June this year, involved the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) and Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), said SPF in a statement released on Tuesday (June 17). During the operation, officers from SPF's Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department worked closely with their counterparts from HKPF and RMP to target multiple locations across the three jurisdictions. Investigations revealed that the syndicate had established a sophisticated criminal network spanning Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The syndicate utilised Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Global System for Mobile (GSM) gateway devices, allowing scam calls to be placed from computers and laptops to mobile phones. It was also discovered that the syndicate employed an advanced, cloud-based remote operating system. This enabled them to make fraudulent calls through local mobile phone networks despite being stationed elsewhere, leading victims in Singapore to believe they were receiving calls from within the country. Police seized 226 GSM gateway devices — 76 from Singapore — while conducting raids at various locations in the three jurisdictions. 141 of them were confiscated in Hong Kong. Among the 11 individuals who were arrested for their suspected involvement in the syndicate was a 29-year-old male suspect. He was arrested in Malaysia on June 3 before being handed over to Singapore and charged in court two days later for being a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit cheating offences. If convicted, he could face an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine. Commenting on the operation, CAD Director David Chew stressed that "a transnational threat requires a transnational response". "Scam syndicates build sophisticated transnational cloud network infrastructure to launch attacks on our citizenry," he said. "This successful operation demonstrates the strong partnership between SPF, HKPF and RMP to combat these transnational scam syndicates." "The coordinated efforts with our foreign counterparts have been instrumental in arresting the criminals maintaining this criminal infrastructure and dismantling it," he added. Chew also assured that the SPF will continue to work closely with its partners to detect, deter and disrupt such criminal activities and prosecute those behind them to the fullest extent of the law. Those who wish to learn more about scams can visit or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799, the police added. Anyone with information on such scams may call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit a report online at All information will be kept strictly confidential. [[nid:718792]]
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hong Kong authorities unveil measures to combat financial crime
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), and The Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) have jointly introduced a series of new initiatives aimed at preventing, identifying, and disrupting financial crimes such as fraud and the use of mule accounts. These include expanding the use of Scameter data, which helps banks identify suspicious accounts and notify at-risk customers, enabling them to take preventive steps. Additional initiatives include information sharing between banks and the adoption of best practices for anti-fraud measures, aiming to bolster the capacity of banks to detect and prevent fraud and money laundering linked to scams. The new approach also involves conducting thematic reviews to assist banks in establishing stronger anti-fraud systems. Public awareness campaigns, including the "Don't Lend/Sell Your Account" message, will be ramped up to raise awareness and reduce the risk of account misuse. To enhance the effectiveness of these efforts, the HKMA, HKPF, and the banking industry will step up public outreach activities. The creation of the Anti-fraud Education Taskforce, led by the HKAB, will coordinate educational efforts across 18 major banks to target high-risk customer groups. The HKMA and HKPF will continue to collaborate closely with banks and other relevant parties to improve the detection and prevention of financial crime in Hong Kong. The move comes as fraud escalates in both scale and complexity, with criminals increasingly taking advantage of technology to exploit victims more swiftly and broadly, highlighted HKMA. In 2024, Hong Kong reported 44,480 cases of deception, an 11.7% rise compared to 2023. Moreover, 10,496 individuals were apprehended last year in relation to various fraud and money laundering offences. Around 7,700 of those arrested were involved in selling or permitting their accounts to be used for money laundering, showing a 13.6% increase from the year before. "Hong Kong authorities unveil measures to combat financial crime" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
