17th January 2025 – (Hong Kong) Scammers posing as representatives of Fortress have been targeting unsuspecting individuals through WhatsApp, leading to a wave of fraudulent activity. Victims are added to groups where they are promised cash rewards for “collecting” products and providing screenshot evidence. However, these scammers require participants to initially cover costs for purchasing items.
Initially, participants may receive payments and commissions, fostering a false sense of security. Yet, when they are coerced into investing more money, the scammers vanish without a trace. In the past week alone, police reported 107 cases related to this scam, amounting to over HK$30 million in losses. The most significant loss involved a 54-year-old local woman who was manipulated into downloading a counterfeit application and depositing funds to complete tasks. It was only after the scammers disappeared that she realised she had lost a staggering HK$2.3 million.
Authorities are urging the public to exercise caution in response to unsolicited recruitment messages or job offers. They recommend using the “Cyber Defender” website or mobile app to assess potential fraud risks associated with suspicious links, social media accounts, or phone numbers. As these scams proliferate, vigilance remains crucial to protect against financial exploitation.
The post Fortress impersonation scam results in HK$30 million losses in one week, 54-year-old woman defrauded of HK$2.3 million appeared first on Dimsum Daily.
English (US) ·