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| Some of the documents seized in the police operation (Sing Tao photo) |
by Daisy CL Mandap
Hong Kong police have reported the arrest of 139 people in the last two weeks, on suspicion that they sold their bank accounts to money launderers.
The arrests which involved 100 men and 39 women aged 19 to 73, were made
as part of an operation to crack down on scams that resulted in $131 million in
losses to victims.
Police said at the
news conference earlier today that they are applying for harsher penalties for those
who sold their bank accounts to syndicates, to further deter people from
enabling the illicit transactions.
The Justice Department has already made a similar request, resulting in the High Court imposing immediate imprisonment for longer periods to the registered account holders.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Currently, the force is also in talks with banks on strengthening their communication to stop the illegal activities.
A pending bill at the Legislative Council could also result in banks sharing data information on suspicious transactions later this year
Last year, a 12%
increase in scam cases was recorded compared with 2023, in which more than $9.1
billion was lost by victims. More than 8,600 people were arrested for selling their
bank accounts to syndicates.
Police said the
syndicates often use cold calls or social media posts to encourage people to
sell or “lend” their bank accounts, in exchange for easy cash.
They warned that handing
over bank accounts, regardless of who subsequently use them for transactions,
make the account holder legally liable.
The public is also
advised to be wary of online transactions, especially if the merchant asks for payment
into a personal account or multiple accounts. Buyers must also carefully verify
the seller’s name and account details before making transactions.
