Beware of ‘trial loan’ scam

 

The supposed loan agreement is littered with grammatical errors with fake guarantee seals

Never engage with people who offer you instant loans through text or social media messaging.

This was the painful lesson learned by a Filipina domestic helper recently, when she was forced to send HK$1,200 to someone who contacted her using a Singapore number (+65 81915022) and offered her a quick loan at low interest.

But the offer came with a twist: instead of her receiving the promised loan of HK$10,000 she was supposed to pay HK$1,200 upfront, to cover a supposed trial loan of HK$280, plus her first monthly installment of HK$920.

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Anne (not her real name) said she was forced to send the money to the Alipay account given (+852 92431867 ) as she had by then given all her personal details to the unknown person, including her employer’s name and contact number.

When she tried to get the loan cancelled, Anne was told it was not possible, as the terms of the loan agreement were clearly stated in the loan agreement sent her.

“You should be read properly yourself your approval letter (sic),” said the loan recruiter.

A close look at the supposed loan agreement sent her showed it was obviously fake. The logo of I-Credit (Singapore) was used on top but underneath, the Hong Kong Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and Active Finance, a licensed money lender in the Philippines, supposedly gave it a seal of approval.

Basahin ang detalye!

There were other telltale signs of forgery, including a smattering of wrong grammar and misspellings in the document. But Anne’s name, phone number, Alipay account and home address were typed in clearly, an ominous sign that she could be tracked anytime.

Still, the other person on the line said in broken English that Anne would not find a money lender that would allow a loan agreement to be cancelled once the approval letter is sent.

“We are not doing a free job for you, here is not playground for fun with u (sic),” the text said.

Screenshot of text messages from the loan broker

Time and again, various authorities have warned the public never to engage anyone who makes a random phone call, or sends a text or email offering a pre-approved loan that was not applied for.

The alarm bells should sound even louder if the supposed loan recipient is asked to pay money upfront for “processing” or whatever excuse might be given.

There are other red flags: if a lender does not check on the borrower’s income, credit history and capacity to pay; if the terms of the loan agreement including the exact interest rate, fees and monthly payments are not stated clearly; if the money lender is not authorized to operate legally in the place or country where the borrower resides.

Anne’s case was unfortunately, not a rare one. In a chat group formed by other victims of the loan scam syndicate, another Filipina helper said she had become so unnerved by the threats coming from the loan broker that she decided to just terminate her contract and go back home.

For Anne, the scare is not yet over. She has tried to ask for help at the Wong Tai Sin police station, but was told that since the fraud was committed online by a person or group operating from Singapore it would be difficult to go after them at this stage.

As the group she has lost money to already knows how to reach her employer, she is afraid her harassment could escalate.

 

Gov’t secures vaccine supplies for seasonal influenza

 

Photo from Department of Health

The Hong Kong government has been gearing up for the coming Flu season, buying 1.3 million doses of vaccines for its Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programs, the Department of Health (DH) announced today.

Receiving vaccines is the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. It also reduces the risks of hospitalisation and mortality during the winter influenza season which typically occurs from January to March or April, the DH said.

“To enhance the stability of vaccine supplies, the Government has enhanced the procurement procedures this year to introduce different brands and technology platforms of seasonal influenza vaccines that are supplied by different vaccine suppliers,” the DH said.

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“The enhancement aims to diversify supply chain risks, ensure the reliability and sustainability of vaccine supplies, and enhance the flexibility of vaccine use in order to increase the vaccination rate,” it added.

To improve the efficiency of logistics management, the Government will continue to adopt the "first-in, first-out" principle to flexibly allocate the delivery of the vaccines according to the delivery schedules of the successful bidders.

All these vaccines are registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, and manufacturers must comply with the Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for Medicinal Products.

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Two licensed wholesale dealers of pharmaceutical products were awarded the contracts for the vaccines, all of which are trivalent vaccinesrecommended by the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection of the DH.

In addition, the Government launched the Pilot Scheme on Vaccine Procurement for Family Doctors (Pilot Scheme) in 2025/26. “With the experience gained from the Pilot Scheme, the Government will continue to implement the Pilot Scheme in the 2026/27 and strengthen the related arrangements, including increasing the number of influenza vaccine doses available for procurement by eligible doctors from 100 000 to 300 000, expanding the eligibility groups to include doctors who participate in the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (VSS) and at least one other Government-subsidised primary healthcare program and streamlining the overall workflow arrangements and simplifying the process for consenting to participate in the VSS.

“The above measures will help further enhance the stability of the vaccine supply in the private market and encourage eligible members of the public to receive vaccinations,” the DH said.

2 Filipina DHs acquitted of illegal dental practice

 

Naong, Cerdina, Ramos and Patiga leave court during the lunch break

Two Filipina domestic helpers were acquitted Tuesday at Shatin Magistrates Court on charges of breaching their visa conditions by practising dentistry without a licence, in a case that brought to light questionable practices employed by law enforcers in arresting people suspected of engaging in illegal work.

Rowena M. Cerdina, 46, and Jucen L. Naong, 40, were both teary-eyed but relieved when Deputy Magistrate Pang Leung-ting ruled that there was not enough evidence against them, mid-way through their scheduled seven-day trial.

Outside court, both Cerdina and Naong said they were lucky that their respective employers have stuck with them throughout their ordeal, and have kept them in their employ.

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The Migrant Workers Office at the Philippine Consulate have also supported them by hiring two teams of lawyers to handle their defense.

Naong said she has worked in Hong Kong for 15 years and has never had any brush with the law. She was grateful for the support of her employer, who even accompanied her to almost all her court hearings.

But the nightmare of being arrested and questioned by immigration officers for three days before they were released on bail would stay with her for a long time. Naong called the detention center “the worst place” she has stayed in.

Basahin ang detalye!

Before they were discharged, the magistrate expressed frustration that four days after the trial began, he had yet to see any evidence related to the supposed illicit dental practice, and instructed the prosecution to seek advice from the Department of Justice to clarify the basis for the prosecution.

On questioning by defense lawyers, immigration officers who conducted the raid on the suspected dental clinic in Sham Shui Po on Aug 17, 2025 admitted that they did so without a search warrant, and that they were not in uniform.

They also admitted questioning the six Filipinas they arrested in the premises without any Filipino interpreter around, and held them for questioning for three days, not giving them the chance to talk to anyone, including their employers.

It also emerged that when the lead immigration officer took the defendants out of the unit he arranged for them to be filmed as they were led to a waiting vehicle in three neat rows. The scene was filmed again after the officer said the first video did not come out well.

By this time, the immigration officers were already wearing their official vests.

Defense said this photo of the arrest was posed

When the trial resumed Tuesday, the prosecution said it would not offer any more evidence against Cerdina and Naong, but would continue the case against their two co-defendants, Carles Lie Ramos, 34; and Cherrie Mel Patiga, 37.

Magistrate Pang again asked for a clarification of the basis for proceeding with the case, saying that no dental tools were presented as evidence and that “except for some defendants who were accused of making verbal admissions, we know nothing about the prosecution.”

Prosecution replied that it would still rely on the evidence by the immigration officers who conducted the operation on the flat where the alleged illegal dental services were conducted, the defendants’ verbal admission of guilt, and photos taken of the tools used in the illicit practice.

The bail of $2,000 each posted by Ramos and Patiga were extended until the continuation of their trial today, Wednesday.

The four were among six Filipinas arrested during the immigration raid. They said a total of 19 people were inside the flat at the time as someone was celebrating a birthday, but it was not clear how they were singled out.

The two others arrested with them were sisters who had admitted to operating the unlicensed dental clinic: Marites Guiang Bohol, 48; and Marissa Guiang Necesito, 60, both FDHs.

Bohol pleaded guilty to practicing dentistry without registration, and establishing a business in breach of her condition of stay.

Necesito admitted breaching her condition of stay, practicing dentistry without registration, and three counts of employing persons not legally employable.

The trial of the two remaining defendants continues.

Tourist jailed 15 months for overstaying, ignoring deportation order

 

File photo from Gemini

A Filipina tourist who did not leave Hong Kong when she was supposed to two years ago, and then ignored a deportation order until she was arrested last April, was jailed for 15 months today after pleading guilty at Tuen Mun Court.

Patricia Tawagon, 59 years years old, was sentenced by Acting Principal Magistrate Daniel Tang to two months in prison for breach of condition of stay (overstay) and 15 months for breach of deportation order.

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Magistrate Tang ordered that the two sentences run at the same time, leaving a total term of 15 months.

The asylum seeker was arrested on April 12, 2026, near lamppost BD2120 on Kung Um Road, Yuen Long, New Territories.

The Yuen Long Police subsequently filed a complaint for breach of condition of stay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance, after she was found to have contravened her condition of stay. She was supposed to have left Hong Kong 14 days after arriving on December 15, 2024.

Basahin ang detalye!

The breach of deportation order, contrary to section 43(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance, arose after she violated her “deportation order to leave Hong Kong and prohibiting her from being in Hong Kong at anytime,” the police said.

The Ordinance penalizes such offense with imprisonment for three years on summary conviction, and seven years when convicted on indictment.

Labour Relations HK West office to move to Sheung Wan

 

The HK West Labour Relations Office will move to Infinitus Plaza on Des Voeux Road

The Hong Kong West Office of Labour Relations Division of the Labour Department will be moved to a new office in Infinitus Plaza on Des Voeux Road in Sheung Wan from Monday, Aug. 10.

This is the office where workers, including foreign domestic workers, may go for in-person consultation on matters relating to conditions of employment and their rights and obligations under the Employment Ordinance.

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The address of the new office is Units 904-906, 9/F, Infinitus Plaza, 199 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan. To get there, use Exit E5 of Sheung Wan MTR Station.

The office will be open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6.15pm, and closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

The telephone number of the office, 2922 6003, will remain unchanged.

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FDHs with labour-related inquiries may also call a dedicated, multi-lingual hotline that is available 24 hours a day: 2517 9537 or the general 24-hour Labour Department hotline: 2717 1771 (both handled by 1823). They may also send an email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk

To prepare for the move, the current office on the 3^rd floor of Western Magistracy Building 2A Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong, will be closed after the service hours on August 

Pinay DH working as sidewalk vendor gets off with bind-over

 

The pavement in front of the Jardine House

A domestic helper facing four charges as a result of her arrest in Central while cooking food for sale, got off lightly today when the charges were withdrawn after she entered into a bind-over agreement at Eastern Court.

But L.Gollayan, 46 years old, will have to behave and not reoffend for 12 months, otherwise she will have to pay $1,000 fine for each of the four offenses, according to the terms of the bind-over set by Principal Magistrate David Cheung.

Gollayan was arrested while cooking inside a tent on a roadside of Jardine House on 1 Connaught Place, Central, across the road from the Hong Kong General Post Office at 9:38am on November 9 last year.

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The first charge filed by the Central Police was obstruction of a public place, contrary to Section 4A of Summary Offenses Ordinance, by occupying an area of about 1.96 meter by 1.78 meter.

Gollayan caused obstruction of pedestrians after she left the following on the pavement: 4.78 kilos of fried spring rolls, eight packs of spring roll wrapper, 4.94 kilos of banana, 0.66 kilo of quail egg, 4.24 kgs. of vegetable, 0.34 kilo of minced meat, 1.64 kilos of oil, 1 pack of flour, 2 packs of sugar, one butter, one can of chicken powder, one pack of baking powder, one pack of yeast, two bottles of seasoning sauce, two plastic boxes, one plastic sieve, five gas cylinders, two portable stoves, one wooden chopping board, two metal. pots, one metal sieve, three metal tongs, one metal net, three metal trays, one plastic ladle, one  pair of chopsticks, one plastic knife, one scissors, one trolley, one tent, two peelers, two metal spoons, one bundle of bamboo sticks, one bundle of plastic wrap, one pack of plastic cups, one pack of tissue, 1 pack of wet tissue, one funnel, one nylon bag.

The second charge is hawking without a license, contrary to Sections 83B(1) & (3) and 150 of the Public Health & Municipal Services Ordinance, for selling food items such as friend spring rolls, quail eggs, minced meat ang other ingredients for lumpia and banana cue.

Basahin ang detalye!

The third charges cooking or heating food for the purpose of hawking otherwise than under and in accordance with a license, contrary to Sections 5(3) and 56(1) of the Hawker Regulation made under Section 83A of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance.

Finally she was charged with breach of condition of stay, contrary to section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance, Cap. 115, Laws of Hong Kong and by virtue of Regulation 2 of the Immigration Regulations.

Gollayan was charged with violating a condition of stay imposed by an Immigration Assistant on July 14, 2025, in that, while she was permitted to remain in Hong Kong for employment, she was allowed to work as a domestic helper for Tsui Yee Wa.

“But you did establish a business of selling food at Central, other than approved by the Director of Immigration,” the police charge said.

1.2M obtain OFW Pass; DMW works on airlines to accept it

 

More than 1.2million oversea Filipino workers have obtained the OFW Pass, a free digital exit clearance and identification document created by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to replace the paper Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), the DMW has reported.

The OFW can be obtained through the eGovPH app or the DMW Mobile App. It remains valid until the expiration of an OFW’s existing employment contract, unlike the old OEC which expired after 60 days or 90 days depending on issuance.

The OFW Pass is issued free of charge for verified overseas workers to serve as official proof at Philippine airports and immigration that one is a documented OFW authorized to return abroad, confirming their employment status.

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This is separate from the mandatory eTravel online form, which tracks people’s flight and travel details.

DMW Undersecretary Dominique Tutay said DMW is working on more airlines to honor the OFW Pass in lieu of the OEC.

She said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac will issue an advisory to officially announce the full implementation of the travel pass. “We are calling on our colleagues in the airline industry that our OFWs can now simply show their travel pass through eGovPH,” she said.

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She said the digital platform allows OFWs to register, verify employment contracts and process travel clearances online, integrating data from recruitment agencies, foreign employers, Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) and Bureau of Immigration.

The DMW said the platform is operational nationwide and abroad, with support desks in MWOs and partner offices to assist OFWs during the transition.

Hong Kong is among the 10 pilot test countries in the OFW Pass implementation.

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The other countries are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Qatar, Oman, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, and the United Kingdom

No more referees as new money lending regulations take effect

 

New rules on referees explained to FilCom by HK government officials last April

Starting from yesterday, Aug. 1, all licensed money lenders are no longer allowed to require borrowers to provide a referee (or “reference” as it is commonly known among migrant workers), who end up being harassed by collectors if the loan is in default, or the borrower can no longer be found.

In addition, the “debt servicing ratio”caps which limit the amount of loan that can be extended to borrowers also took effect.

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Under this mechanism, those earning HK$6,000 or less per month can only be granted loans for which the monthly repayment does not exceed 35% of their salary. For those earning between HK$6,001 to HK$12,000 the repayment cap is set at 40% of their monthly income.

The debt servicing cap explained

The new measures which would impact greatly on migrant domestic workers whose salaries generally fall within the regulated amount, are part of the government’s effort to regulate the activities of licensed money lenders.

According to a statement issued by the government yesterday, Saturday, the debt caps “will not only protect the public, but also encourage money lenders to grant loans more responsibly, thereby helping to address the issue of excessive borrowing and foster a more healthy market development.”

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The stricter regulations were previously opposed by some sectors during a three-month public consultation last year, saying limiting the amount that borrowers, particularly MDWs, would prevent them obtaining loans that should be significant enough to fund projects like building a home or investing in business. 

How to determine the loan cap for affected borrowers

But others supported the restrictions, saying excessive borrowing by low-income workers has spawned many problems, including relentless harassment by collectors, and borrowers resorting to crime like theft, or becoming depressed or suicidal.

Employers’ groups also lobbied heavily for the restrictions, saying they have been harassed and threatened by collectors after their debt-saddled helpers left their employ.

Basahin ang detalye!

The second phase of the new regulations will take effect on June1 next year. This phase will require all money lenders engaged in providing unsecured loans to regularly submit personal credit information of their relevant borrowers to the Credit Data Smart (CDS) under government supervision.

Money lenders will also need to meet specific requirements to join the CDS to obtain personal credit information on their loan applicants.

The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) which is the prime movers of the new regulations called on the community to support their implementation so as to curb problems associated with excessive borrowing.

 

Pinay tourist jailed 2 months for sex work

 

Tuen Mun Courts

A Filipiina tourist who joined a business offering sexual services, was sentenced at Tuen Mun Court to two months imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to breaching the conditions of her stay.

J.A. Casiano, 39 years old. had been charged with violation of section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance, and by virtue of Regulation 2(1)(b) of the Immigration Regulations.

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In a hearing last Thursday, (July 30), Acting Principal Magistrate  Daniel Tang, noted that when Casiano arrived in Hong Kong last July 12, an Immigration officer only permitted her to remain in Hong Kong as a visitor until July 26, 2026.

However, she was found to have violated her condition of stay when she was found on July 16, 2026, at a flat in Kit Man House on Kuk Ting Street, Yuen Long, to have joined in the “business of providing sexual service at the above place without permission of the Director of Immigration,”according to information filed by Yuen Long Police.

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Meanwhile a 74-year-old tourist was returned to jail after appearing on Thrsday at the West Kowloon Court for attempted theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance and section 159G of the Crimes Ordinance.

Cezar Raiz, also known as Rodrigo C. Balajadia, was arrested for attempting to steal 22 pieces of gold pendants valued at a total of $131,093, the property of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Company Limited, last December 14, 2025, at the company’s showroom on 621-623 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon.

Basahin ang detalye!

Principal Magistrate Don So adjourned the hearing of the case to September 24.

32 persons arrested in latest anti-illegal work operations

 

2 overstayers were among those arrested

A total of 32 persons were rounded up in the latest operations carried out by the Immigration Department to flush out illegal workers.

They included 23 suspected illegal workers, two overstayers and seven employers.

The workers included one who was on recognizance as an asylum seeker, and two who held fake HK ID cards.

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Raids carried out from July 24 to 30 targeted known blackspots like restaurants, industrial buildings and flats under renovation.

Immigration said it was carrying further investigations of the employers, and more arrests are not unlikely.

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It again warned that working illegally or hiring someone not lawfully employable are serious offences for which jail time is prescribed.

Illegal work is punished with jail time of up to 2-3 years

Visitors who take up work, paid or unpaid, are liable to imprisonment of up to two years and a maximum fine of HK$50,000. The same applies to foreign domestic workers who take up work outside their employers’ homes.

The jail time goes up to three years if the illegal worker is an illegal immigrant, asylum seeker or an overstayer.

Using forged or fake documents is an even more serious offence, for which the prescribed maximum sentence is 10 years’ imprisonment and HK$100,000 fine.

Basahin ang detalye!

Employers who do not exercise due diligence or deliberate hire illegal workers face the most severe penalty of up to HK$500,000 in fine and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

 

 

 

33 overstaying FDHs who failed in asylum bids sent back home

 

All those repatriated were former domestic helpers

The Immigration Department repatriated a total of 33 former foreign domestic helpers who overstayed, then filed for asylum but failed to support their claim.

 They included some who had been discharged from prison after committing criminal offences.

 All were sent back to their places of origin from July 29 to 31 as part of Hong Kong's campaign to speed up the repatriation of those who do not have enough proof or reason to support their asylum applications.

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 A statement issued by the Immigration Department said it was very concerned about the abuse of the mechanism for non-refoulement claim, or against being sent back home, as the first step to applying for asylum.

It added it was aware that a number of claimants were former FDHs, and because of this, has been working with relevant consulates-general to step up publicity and education for newly arrived FDHs to help them understand that they should not abuse the non-refoulement system.

A number had criminal records

Under a government policy that has been enforced since December 2022, Immigration can proceed with the removal of claimants whose judicial review cases have been dismissed by the Court of First Instance. This means that they can be removed even if they file an appeal against such a decision.

Recently, the Philippine Consulate reported that there had been 26 applications for non-refoulement filed by Filipinos so far this year, but acknowledged that there are hundreds, if not thousands others, who are waiting for a final judgment in their cases.

Consul General Romulo D. Israel, Jr. said reaching out to them has been difficult because their identities and whereabouts are protected by Hong Kong’s strict privacy laws. But the Consulate is committed to helping them out should they decide to just go back to the Philippines.

Israel said the Consulate knows of only one successful application for asylum by a Filipino, which indicates that there’s hardly any chance for the current claimants to succeed in their claims.

Immigration said it will continue to explore ways to speed up the repatriation of applicants who cannot substantiate their claims of torture or persecution. These will include liaising with governments of major source countries of the claimants, airline companies and other government departments so the repatriation of unsubstantiated claimants could proceed “as soon as practicable through all appropriate measures.”

 

 

 

Another DH jailed 12 months for launderiing $2M

 

Illustrative photo created with deevid.ai

Another domestic helper was jailed for 12 months today by the Fanling Court for money laundering, by allowing over $2 million in crime money to pass through her three bank accounts between November 2025 to February this year.

Roxan Pawal, 32 years old, pleaded guilty to three counts of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence, contrary to sections 25(1) and 25 (3) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance.

Acting Principal Magistrate Jason Wan sentenced her to eight months in prison for the first charge, six months for the second and eight months for the third. But he ordered that two months of the second and third sentences run after the first sentence.

Basahin ang detalye!

In the first charge, Pawal was accused of dealing with $909,145 “in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represented any person's proceeds of an indictable offence” in her account with The Hongkong And Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.

The transactions, arranged together with another person known as Marina, took place between 1 and 31 of December 2025, the police report added.

In the second charge, Pawal was accused of handling $447,925.18 of tainted money in her account with Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, between January 12, 2026 and February 27, this year, also with the help of Marina.

In the third charge, she was charged with handling $732,062 Hong Kong currency in the bank account with Hang Seng Bank Limited between November 22 and December 19, 2025.