Police report total losses of HK$3.7 million, including HK$5,500 paid by two boys, 13 and 14, to online ‘dates’ who never showed up
Two teenage schoolboys were among more than 80 Hongkongers who lost a combined HK$3.7 million (US$471,400) over four weeks in July, after they were deceived into making upfront payments for sex or companionship in a series of compensated dating scams, according to police.
The force said the boys, aged 13 and 14, were duped into paying a total of HK$5,500 to meet “dates” they had contacted via Instagram or dating apps, but the encounters never materialised.
Police also revealed that nearly 20 per cent of the victims were under the age of 20. In response, they posted a public warning on the CyberDefender Facebook page on Monday, urging extra caution – particularly among students during the summer holidays – when meeting people online.
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