Police warn helpers to beware of men who borrow their ATM cards

By Vir B. Lumicao

Marks of a scammer: A single-day deposit of more than $500k, and frequent withdrawals in smaller amounts

Police have warned foreign domestic helpers to be wary of male strangers they meet online, and ask to borrow their ATM cards for some financial transactions.

An officer at Mong Kok Police Station said there are many criminals in Hong Kong or overseas who con FDWs into using their bank accounts to “wash” illegally obtained money.

The Hong Kong Police said that in the first half of this year alone, there were 429 cases of these so-called love scams, a rise of 147 cases or 52.1% from the same period last year.

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The money lost in this type of scam totaled $108.9 million so far this year.  

This was the same warning given to Jennifer (not her real name), a Filipina domestic helper, who filed a report with the police last week, after her bank alerted her to some huge amounts deposited into her account within just over a month.

When she asked the bank for her monthly statement, she saw that a total of $1.2 million in deposits and nearly the same amount in withdrawals had been made after she lent her ATM card to an African lover she met online.

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“Don’t ever lend your bank account or give your personal details to other people,” the officer told Jennifer.

After inspecting Jennifer’s bank statement, the officer said the transactions indeed bore the hallmarks of money laundering.

But he said that the police couldn’t act on her complaint yet, as they needed the bank to endorse the case to them for investigation.

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In the meantime, the officer advised the maid to stop seeing the man and call for police assistance just in case he reappears and she fears for her safety.

The officer told Jennifer it was likely her virtual boyfriend was doing the same thing to many other women.

“Personally, I won’t give my personal details even to my friend because he could use it against me in the future,” the officer said.

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The police warning proved to be true as Jennifer was informed by an acquaintance recently hat her boyfriend had been dating another Filipina.

This was after he stopped taking her calls and text messages.

In her complaint, Jennifer told the officer she opened the savings account with HSBC on Apr 18 with an opening deposit of $1,000.

 

The scammer reportedly said he needed an ATM card to receive his salary (specimen photo)

She lent her ATM card and its password to her boyfriend on Apr 19 when he begged to use it just once to receive his salary because, accordingly, he did not have a bank account.

The maid said that when she asked the man to return her ATM card in subsequent meetings, he refused.

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Then in their last meeting, the man asked her to open an account with Bank of China, but she declined. That was the last time she saw him.

The bank statement that Jennifer requested on police advice showed that between Apr 20 and May 25, over $1.24 million had passed through her account.

The biggest single transaction was a deposit for $506,000 made on May 20. On May 7, four deposits of $50,000 each was made in the same day, and the next day, $50,000 more was added into the account.

The withdrawals were made more frequently, but were usually in sums of $15,000 and $20,000.

Jennifer said she didn’t have access to her account without her ATM card, and only realized what her boyfriend had done when she received her bank statement.

She has since reported the matter also to the Consulate.

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Hong Kong’s Covid-19 tally soars past 3k with 118 new cases, 2 deaths

By The SUN

Two more seafarers from the Philippines tested positive on arrival today at HK airport 

There has been no let-up in the surge of new Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong, with 118 new infections reported today, Jul 29.

The new cases brought the city’s total tally to 3,003.

It’s the seventh day in a row that the number of new cases each day has exceeded 100.

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Of the new cases, five were imported, and three of them were seafarers, two from the Philippines, and one from India. Two flew in from the United States and Ethiopia.

Shipping crew have been dominating the list of imported cases since they were required to submit to mandatory testing on arrival in Hong Kong on Jul 8.

Inevitably, many of those who test positive are Filipinos, as they make the most number of seafarers around the world. But they still account for a small percentage of the daily infections recorded in Hong Kong.  

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As of today, air and sea crew were also required to submit a negative result for a swab test conducted 48 hours prior to boarding their flight to Hong Kong.

But the three who tested negative should have arrived before the new rules took effect, as the cut-off time for inclusion to the daily list of confirmed cases is midnight the previous day.

Within the past 24 hours, two more deaths were recorded, both involving elderly patient, which brought the total fatality toll to 24. Seventeen of these deaths occurred within this month.

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A 76-year-old female patient at Queen Elizabeth Hospital died at 8:11am today, five days after her condition deteriorated.

She was admitted on Jun 30 due to shortness of breath and heart failure, and had shared a ward with another elderly patient who was found to have Covid-19.

Another patient, an 85-year-old man, died yesterday afternoon at Pamela Youde Nethorsole Hospital, but his death was reported only late last night.

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He was the fifth former elderly patient from the virus-plagued Kong Tai Care for the Aged Center in Tsz Wan Shan to have succumbed to the disease.

Health officials have again said the elderly should avoid going out as they are most vulnerable 

The deaths prompted a new warning from health officials for the elderly to remain at home, and for their family members to ensure they are safe.

Hospital Authority chief manager Sara Ho also renewed an appeal for Covid-19 patients who have been asked to remain at home pending their transfer to hospitals, to remain patient.

Ho said the hospitals remain overwhelmed, despite the transfer of more than 350 patients from isolation rooms to tier-2 beds in isolation wards, and the treatment facility in Lei Yue Mun.

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She said around 100 patients are still waiting to be admitted to hospital even after more than 300 beds have been freed up because it takes time to prepare the isolation rooms for the next patients.

By next Saturday, she said the treatment facility at the AsiaWorld-Expo should start accepting between 20-30 younger patients with minor symptoms for check-up.

Around 100 beds will be available initially, but the intake will gradually increase, as the facility can accommodate as many as 500 patients.

Dr Chuang Shuk-wan of the Centre for Health Protection said meanwhile that the four quarantine facilities have a total of 2,600 units, and about half of them are currently occupied.

Of today’s 113 locally acquired cases, she said 67 were linked to previous infections, mostly involving family members and friends. The sources of the 56 other cases are still being investigated.

Among the biggest cluster of cases were the six confirmed infections at the Cornwall Elderly Home in Tuen Mun. Four of these are staff, and two are residents.

There  were also two nurses at the Po Chung Cheun Ying Home for the Elderly who tested positive; along with another nurse at the Hong Kong Society for the Blind, and staff at King Fok Nursing Home in Lee Cheng Uk.

There were also four new confirmed cases linked to the Kin Shing construction company, where up to 17 previous infections were recorded.

However, Chuang rejected a claim that there is an outbreak at construction sites, saying there have been more cases linked to restaurants, including a new one at the Fulum Restaurant in Tuen Mun.

Ho reported that four support staff at Princess Margaret Hospital also tested preliminary positive. Three of them worked in the same ward, while the fourth worked in the oncology department and was tasked with taking patients’ vital signs.

Six close contacts of the ward staff have been quarantined, as well as 10 of their colleagues who shared meals with them. The other staff in the ward wore adequate PPEs and were not considered as close contacts.

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CG says, it is illegal for employers to stop their FDHs from taking a day-off

By Daisy CL Mandap

 

CG's online meeting with DFA officials had DWC's Rodelia Villar as guest

Consul General Raly Tejada has sent out a firm warning that it is illegal for employers to prevent their domestic worker from taking a day off.

He made his statement during an online meeting with two top officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs on Jul 24, as more Filipina domestic workers complain that their employers are preventing them from going out on their rest day, especially amid the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.

At the online meeting with Undersecretaries Sarah Arriola and Ernesto Abella, Congen Tejada said that the decision not to go out on a rest day should be mutually agreed upon by the employer and the worker.

Otherwise, he said not letting the worker go out of the house is illegal.

“Hindi sila puwedeng pilitin na mag-stay sa bahay dahil labag ito sa batas,” said Congen.

(They cannot be forced to stay at home because that is illegal).

And even if the situation calls for it and the helper agrees not to go out, Congen said “hindi nila ito dapat papagtrabahuin.”  (She should not be made to work).

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“At kung ito ay kanilang papagtrabahuin, dapat magkaroon ng compensation,” he said, but emphasized that the helper’s consent is still necessary in such a case.

(And if they are made to work, there should be compensation).

He said this is the line always taken by the Consulate when consulted by the workers, employers, employment agencies, and even the Hong Kong Labour Department.

 

More employers are telling their helpers to stay home amid the surge in coronavirus cases

His firm stance comes amid complaints from many Filipino domestic workers that their employers are refusing to let them go out on their usual Sunday off, when they are made to do errands on other days.

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The usual complaint is that they are told to do the marketing everyday, even after health officials have identified wet markets as among the high-risk areas for the recent wave of infections.

Others complain that with the ban on dine-in at restaurants, their employers have taken to inviting many relatives over, potentially exposing their entire household to a greater risk of contamination.

One worker said in a private message: “Hindi ako pinapa off minsan, sabi may virus. Pero everyday naman mag market. Tapos yung amo ko, lumalabas palagi para magtrabaho. Kapag Lunes hanggang Sabado walang virus, kapag Linggo may virus. It’s unfair po.”

(I am not allowed to go out sometimes, (my employer) says there is a virus. But everyday I go to market, and my employer also goes out all the time to work. From Monday to Saturday there’s no virus, but on Sunday there is. It’s unfair).

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Several others say their employers have used rumors of a lockdown –which the Chief Executive Carrie Lam herself has brushed aside as “fake news” – to stop them from going out on their rest day.

Many of the workers have taken to venting out on social media because at the end of the day, it’s the fear of losing their jobs that prevent them from asserting their right.

But not all employers are taking advantage of their helper’s vulnerability amid the pandemic.

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A reposted comment from an employer reads in part:

“The virus is active ALL week, NOT just on Sundays, yet you're happy to send her off to the market during the week to buy YOUR food? Likewise with taking YOUR kids out, or walking YOUR dog…”

She then added, “It's gross misconduct, bordering illegal to keep her hostage, all the while knowing that she won't report you to the Labour Department for fear of losing her job. Disgusting! These ladies are an indispensable part of our lives, and should be treated humanely, and with the respect they deserve!”

Also to the point was an article written recently by Equal Opportunities Commission Chairman Ricky Chu who said: “An employer who compels his/her FDH to work on a rest day without the consent of the FDH or fails to grant rest days to the FDH is in breach of the Employment Ordinance and is liable to prosecution.”

Chu said the employer could ask the helper to go out on a different rest day, but even this should only happen with the consent of the worker.

Despite all the warnings, however, not a few employers have used a Labour Department’s advisory in early February that they could “agree” with their helper about making them stay at home, as a reason for depriving the worker of her only rest day in the week.

Several migrant support organizations, including the Mission for Migrant Workers, have documented a number of cases of Filipino domestic workers who have been forcibly kept at home by their employers since the coronavirus outbreak began in January.

At least three of the workers have since left their employers’ house, and have successfully claimed for compensation for all the days that they were not made to take a rest day, plus one month’s salary in lieu of notice, even if they were the ones who terminated their contracts.

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Filipino admits theft of $15k collection from employer’s client

By Vir B. Lumicao

The defendant pleaded guilty to stealing $15k he collected for his company

A Filipino staff of a ship supply company pleaded guilty today, Jul 28, to a charge of theft in West Kowloon Court for making off with more than $15,000 in cash collection from his employer’s client in January this year.

The defendant, A. Manlangit, 40, was convicted by Magistrate Peter Law, who withheld his sentence until Aug 25 after the defendant said he would return the money to the company before that date.

The prosecution charged Manlangit with stealing a US$1,972 ($15,382) payment he had collected from a cargo ship on Jan 5 for his employer, Hong Kong Shipchandlers Ltd.

The firm hired him in July 2019 to deliver goods and collect cash from customers.

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Manlangit was instructed by the company manager to collect the payment from the captain of Maersk Edirne at Container Terminal 9 in Tsing Yi but did not return to the office on that day, a police report said.

The company manager confirmed with the captain of Maersk Edirne that he had given the money to the defendant on that date.

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On Jan 6, the company manager received Whatsapp messages from the defendant saying he went to the Philippines with the cash and asked the company to give him two days to return the money.

The defendant became out of reach after that and the case was reported to the police.

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On Jan 31, the defendant returned to the company but did not return the money, prompting the manager to call the police. He was arrested but remained silent.

In mitigation, the defense counsel said the defendant, married, pleaded guilty to the offense and offered to return the stolen money.

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Magistrate Law ordered him to return to the court on Aug 25 and extended his bail.

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Maid overpaid by $1,000 reaps praises for returning money

By Vir B. Lumicao

Oribio took a shot of the money given her before returning the extra $1,000 to her employer

For a domestic helper earning $4,520 a month, an extra $1,000 in her salary is a windfall.

But when her employer gave that much extra when paying her salary, Jybhel Marie Oribio knew it was a mistake, so she gave it back.

Her deed gained praises from her fellow Filipinos, who said she did the right thing.

Oribio, 34 and a single mom, said the overpayment happened this afternoon, Jul 28.

“Nakita ko po kasi na parang napadami yung inabot niya sa akin, kasi siya po ang nagbilang habang nasa kusina ako at naghuhugas ng pinggan,” Oribio said.

When she counted the money, it was $5,520.

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“Sabi ko po kay Ma’am, ‘Thank you po, Ma’am, pero ibabalik ko po yung perang binigay nyo kasi sobra po, hindi po ito ang eksaktong sahod ko’,” Oribio said.

Her employer counted the money again then laughed, and thanked her repeatedly, Oribio said. “Sinundan pa ako sa room ko para mag-thank you ulit,” she added.

Oribio’s act of honesty reaped words of approval from her fellow domestic workers who read her post on the DWC Help Group page on Facebook.

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Lesliann Laureano, a fellow helper, commented on Oribio’s post that her employer could have tested her honesty.

“Baka nga, Sis, sinubukan ka lang din ni amo. Pero mas maganda talagang may busilak na puso. Iyan ang tama, huwag tayo masisilaw sa bagay na di naman sa atin,” she said.

Several other commenters said returning the money was the right thing to do because Oribio’s employer might just be testing her. Others said they had the same experience.

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Maya Nunez said her employer also overpaid her more than once, but each time she returned the extra money. “Kaya minsang sinabihan kong sumobra ulit, ibinigay na lang niya sa akin,” she said.

In another comment, Wilma Lyn Soria Olayvar said the same thing happened to her thrice and she was not sure whether it was due to her female employer getting older.

Another Filipina shared that her male employer once left $20,000 in his pants' pocket. She noticed it after she had put the pants inside the washing machine and the money started getting the water discolored. Alerted, the employer took the wad of bills himself from the washer.

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Another reader, Yoki Coronado, related a different experience. She said once her previous employer asked her to clean her bag, which she found to be full of money.

She said the employer would ask her everyday about her missing cellphone or expensive watch, but the maid would not help her search because she suspected the employer was just up to something. When she got fed up, she asked the employer to fire her.

But Oribio said her employer, her second in Hong Kong, is genuinely kind. She has been serving the employer, along with her child, for the past one and a half years.

The maid said she came here three and a half years ago to be able to help her family and support her daughter, who is 16.

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106 new covid-19 cases today, 7 imported from Phl despite pre-departure testing

By Daisy C L Mandap

 

7 travelers from the Phl tested positive today, despite new rules requiring them to submit a negative test result before boarding 

Seven new arrivals from the Philippines were among the 106 new Covid-19 cases reported in Hong Kong today, Jul 28, which brought the city’s total tally to 2,885.

Three are seafarers, two are domestic helpers, one is a Hong Kong citizen, and the seventh is a baby who flew in with family members.

Their cases came as a surprise to many in the Filipino community, as they should have presented a negative result for a nucleic acid test for Covid-19 before being allowed to board their flight.

The requirement, imposed since last Saturday, Jul 25, also includes the provision that the test should have been made no longer than 72 hours before the flight, and carried out by a laboratory licensed by the Philippine government.

Asked if this meant that the negative swab test result the passengers obtained in Manila was faulty, a female information staff at the Department of Health said it could also mean they somehow got infected after the test was carried out.

But the DH staff said they could not readily give the arrival dates of the passengers, as they are all swamped with work because of a big surge in cases over the past week.

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Consul General Raly Tejada says he has also inquired about the cases, as they could impact other members of the community.

Without the exact details about the cases, “we can’t do any remedial measures if required,” he says.

 

Congen Tejada says he is also asking for details on the patients so remedial measures can be taken if necessary

Since the outbreak of what Hong Kong health officials called the “third wave” of infections, the arrival dates of the imported cases are no longer included on the list which the government posts online hours after the daily briefing.

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On Sunday, when the first passengers from Manila who tested positive after the new stringent rules took effect should have been recorded, nine newly arrived domestic helpers and two seafarers were reported as among those infected.

One of the Filipino helpers flew in with her employers, who also tested positive, making a total of 11 infected passengers from the Philippines.

The Centre for Health Protection listed all 11 in their press release on the same day, but did not indicate when they flew in.

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Yesterday, a baby who flew in with her family members found infected earlier, was included in the record number of 145 new positive cases, but there was also no indication on when the infant arrived.

The continued arrival of Filipino domestic workers also comes as a surprise, since a big group of Hong Kong-based employment agencies has said they won’t make any new deployments from the Philippines until they get a response to their request that the testing validity be extended to a week.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong health officials have said they expect the daily tally to go down by next week, after the most stringent gathering restrictions ever imposed take effect.

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These include a ban on dine-in at all eateries, compulsory wearing of masks in all public places, and limiting public gathering to only two persons.

But CHP’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan warned there should be no room for complacency, as the number of confirmed cases is still worrying.

Today was the lowest daily tally in a week, but there were still 85 preliminary positive cases, which could have taken the number of cases to a new record high if they were diagnosed earlier.

Dr Sara Ho of the Hospital Authority revealed more than 100 confirmed or preliminary positive cases are still waiting to be admitted to hospitals, even after more than 300 recovering patients have already been moved to other facilities.

Ho said 230 patients were moved from individual isolation rooms to second-tier beds in isolation wards, and a further 118 were transferred to the Lei Yue Mun isolation facility.

She asked for understanding for those waiting for admission, saying the HA is doing its best to free up more beds for them.

Both Chuang and Ho also said every effort is being made to help those who face hours of waiting at the AsiaWorld-Expo testing site at the airport before they could either be released for quarantine or moved to a hospital if they test positive.

A reporter said some of those stuck at the airport testing site had complained of not being able to take a shower, or were forced to wear diapers because of the long wait.

Chuang said more shower facilities at the site are being planned, and wet towels provided for the passengers for cleansing.

Among today’s notable cases were 17 linked to a construction site on Mt Kellett Road on the Peak, where the company involved is the Kin Shing Leung’s General Contractors Limited.

At least eight of the company’s workers were diagnosed as early as last Sunday, while two new cases were confirmed today, and two were preliminary positive. The company has its office at the Millenium City in Kwun Tong and it’s unclear how many of the workers had been to the construction site.

Several more cases were linked to elderly care homes, including between three to four residents of Cornwall in Tuen Mun, who tested preliminary positive.

Another preliminary case is a staff member of Shong Yen Aged Home Branch on Leighton Road in Causeway Bay.

At the Salvation Army Lung Hang Residence for Senior Citizens, the chef tested positive, as well as an employee at the Jockey Club Kin Yee Home in Aberdeen.

There are also additional cases in restaurants where previous clusters were reported. One was linked to Fulum Restaurant in Tuen Mun, and another at Tao Heng in Grand Plaza in Mong Kok.

Two more more workers at the Sheung Shui slaughterhouse also tested positive.

Apart from the seven new arrivals from the Philippines, an air crew who flew in from Russia and Germany was listed as the eighth imported case.

There are 1,100 Covid-19 patients currently admitted in 14 public hospitals. Forty of them are in critical condition, 29 in serious condition, while 1,031 are stable.

The death toll stands at 23, with the last 11, all elderly, passing away in less than a month.

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