UST mainland student lost $1mn in scam

A 19-year-old mainland student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has reportedly lost 1.11 million dollars after falling prey to a phone scam in which fraudsters posed as Immigration Department officers.

The student says she received the scam call accusing her of having been involved in a money-laundering case in the mainland. The scammer demanded 1.11 million dollars as "bail money" and claimed the student would be monitored through a webcam. She asked her familiy for the money and transferred the fund as instructed.

Police have classified the case as obtaining property by deception with further probes underway.