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Hong Kong retiree loses nearly HK$2.9 million to romance scam
Police said the case was one of at least 18 online romance scams reported in the past week, with total losses nearing HK$7.8 million.
A retired woman in Hong Kong lost nearly HK$2.9 million, about US$369,670, after being targeted by an online romance scam, according to SCMP Economy. The fraudster posed as an employee of a power company and persuaded her to join a bogus investment scheme.
Hong Kong police said the incident was part of a wider spike in online romance scams, with at least 18 cases reported over the past week and total losses nearing HK$7.8 million, as cited by the force’s CyberDefender social media page.
Police said the victim met the man on Facebook, and the pair built an online romantic relationship over time without ever meeting in person, before the scheme was carried out.