In a decisive move to combat the rising tide of scams, Hong Kong’s Police Chief Raymond Siu announced that by the end of March 2025, all bank users will receive pop-up warnings on ATMs for suspected fraudulent transactions. This initiative comes in response to staggering scam losses that have reached HK$6.41 billion in the first three quarters of 2024. Siu underscored the need for heightened vigilance among citizens, particularly as new forms of fraud, including deepfake technology scams, threaten to escalate in prevalence.
Currently, users of the Faster Payment System (FPS) receive alerts when entering recipient account details flagged as high-risk by the police force’s Scameter database. With approximately 715,000 alerts issued since November 2023, the extension of this warning system to ATMs aims to ensure that users are immediately notified of any potential scams while attempting to conduct transactions. Siu reassured the public that these alerts would provide 100% coverage, significantly bolstering the city’s defenses against fraud.
The police chief’s report revealed a broader context of rising crime rates in Hong Kong, with reported cases increasing by 4.8% over the past year, particularly in the realms of scams and blackmail. Alarmingly, blackmail incidents surged by 21.7%, with sex extortion cases rising to 1,805, a 22% increase from the previous year. The statistics indicate that children represent a notable proportion of the victims targeted in these “naked chat” blackmail schemes, highlighting the urgent need for protective measures across all demographics.
Looking ahead, Siu expressed concerns regarding the anticipated rise in deepfake scams, noting that while such cases are currently limited, they are expected to become more common. The police recently dismantled a local syndicate using deepfake technology to impersonate attractive women, thereby deceiving men into fraudulent relationships. Additionally, the group employed university graduates to establish bogus trading platforms aimed at luring victims into cryptocurrency investments. As Hong Kong confronts these evolving threats, the introduction of ATM pop-up warnings represents a proactive step in safeguarding the public against sophisticated fraud schemes.
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