Complaints against Hong Kong claw machine operators have skyrocketed by more than 760 per cent over the past three years, driven by anger over misleading displays, rigged settings and poor-quality prizes, the city’s consumer watchdog has said.Figures shared by the Consumer Council on Monday showed that the number of reported grievances involving claw machines had gone from 16 in 2023 to 49 in 2024, before surging to 138 last year.The watchdog also highlighted a case involving a complainant who spent HK$200 (US$25.52) on a claw machine stocked with both miniature toy suitcases and boxes that appeared to contain the same items.But the complainant and two children only discovered the boxes were empty when they managed to snag one after playing the HK$5-per-turn game 40 times.The complainant mentioned that the boxes were opaque and lacked any labels indicating they were empty or for decorative purposes only.When she messaged the machine owner, the operator refused to exchange the box for a toy, saying it was only for decoration.The watchdog has urged consumers to stop playing a claw machine and contact staff members if they observe any abnormal settings. Photo: Jelly Tse