HongKongpolicebustedalocalcryptofraudgroupandarrested27people,involvingstudentsfordefraudingvictimsofHK$360Million.Amongsttheaccusedwere21menand6women(aged21to34)whowerearrestedonthesuspectsofdefraudingmultiplelocalandoverseasvictimsduringtheoperationforaboutayear.
Accordingtothelocalmediaoutlet,thepoliceinformedthatthefraudgroupmainlyusedonlineromancemethodstolurevictimsintoinvestingincryptocurrencyandlaterdupedthem.
Thepolicesaidthat6ofthearrestedpeopleweregraduatesfromwell-knownlocaluniversities,and10haveForm6educationandallofthemwererelativelyyoungandthemastermindwasa29-year-oldgangster,SanNgeeAnn.
Youngstudentswerehiredbythefraudgroup,andlatertheywereinformedoftherealbusinessofthefraudgroup,buttheaccusedstudentschosetostaywhentheywereluredwithacommissionof40%aftercommittingthecrime.
SuperintendentYaoYongqinoftheNewTerritoriesSouthRegionalCrimeHeadquarterssaidthatthepolicefirstreceivedintelligenceaboutthefraudgroupinAugust.Aftertwomonthsofinvestigation,theyidentifiedthelocationofitsoperationcenterandtheidentitiesofthegroupmembers,andtookactionon9October.
Severaldevicesincludingcomputers,phones,weaponsandluxurywatcheswerealsoseizedfromthecrimesite.AlltheaccusedhavebeenreleasedonbailpendingfurtherinvestigationandmustreporttothepoliceinlateOctober.
Thearrestoperationcodenamed“CodeWord”mobilizedmorethan100detectivesfromtheNewTerritoriesSouthRegionCrimeDivision,andofficersfromtheCybersecurityandTechnologyCrimeBureauhelpedincollectingevidencerelatedtoInternetandcryptocurrencytransactions.
cryptonewsz.com