The Scam
A 13-year-old Hong Kong girl has been duped into giving gold and diamond jewellery worth HK$300,000 (US$38,466) to scammers who promised they could duplicate them and offer her rewards.
Police said on Friday evening they had arrested a woman, 18, in Tsing Yi when the victim was making a trade with her two days earlier.
Investigation and Arrest
Investigations showed that the woman, who was arrested for obtaining property by deception, had previously fallen into the same kind of scam. She was released on bail and is due to report to police next month.
The Deception
The force received a report that the girl gave scammers gold and diamond necklaces totalling HK$300,000 in four batches between August 28 and September 5 after she was told online that they could be replicated and sold.
The fraudsters were said to have promised to return the original necklaces and offered them rewards, which never happened.
Additional Insight
This case highlights the dangers of online scams and the vulnerability of young individuals who may not fully understand the risks involved. It is important for parents and guardians to educate children about the importance of verifying information and not falling for promises of easy rewards.
