UST mainland student lost $1.1m through phone scam

A female Mainland student at HKUST has reportedly lost $1.11 million after falling victim to a phone scam involving bogus officials.

The 19-year-old student reported to the police that she received a call from someone claiming to be an Immigration Department officer. The caller alleged that she was involved in a money laundering case in Mainland China and demanded a payment of $1.11 million as "bail." The scammer also claimed that she would be monitored via a webcam.

The student requested the funds from her family and transferred the money. She later realized she might have been scammed after discovering descriptions of similar cases on a Mainland social media platform.

The police have classified the case as "Obtaining Property by Deception," and the Investigation Team of the Tseung Kwan O Police District is following up on the matter.