Criminal syndicate responsible for at least 16 cases in which bounced cheques were used to purchase watches, audio systems and electronics
A 16-year-old Form Five student and a person with a triad background were among four suspects arrested by the Hong Kong police in an operation targeting a criminal syndicate using bounced cheques to scam sellers of luxury items.
Cheung Wai-shan, chief inspector of the force’s regional crime unit in Western District, said on Saturday that the syndicate was responsible for at least 16 cases amounting to HK$380,000 (US$48,568).
The scammers would approach sellers on online buy-and-sell platforms to purchase luxury watches, audio systems or expensive electronics, according to police.
“They would purchase mule accounts which have no actual balances and use their chequebooks to deposit funds into the sellers’ accounts,” she said.
