ChainCatcher news, according to Phoenix News, the Hong Kong police recently dismantled a scam group that used deepfake technology to lure others into investing in virtual currency through social media, involving approximately 34 million HKD.
Based on intelligence, the Hong Kong police commercial crime unit arrested 31 people, aged between 20 and 34, some of whom claimed to be students and unemployed, involved in the same scam group, and seized their pre-set 'scripts'. The group would recruit young people looking to 'make quick money', training them to create accounts on dating platforms with fake identities, pretending to have good looks and a luxurious lifestyle, to interact with individuals abroad including Taiwan and East Asia, chatting according to the 'script'. After understanding the other party's background, they would cater to their interests and develop into online lovers, even using deepfake technology for video calls, subsequently luring the other party into investing in virtual currency, claiming significant returns, and requiring deposits into fake platforms. After receiving the virtual currency, the group would immediately withdraw it and cut off contact with the victims.
Hong Kong Commercial Crime Bureau Acting Senior Superintendent Kong Hing-hun stated: “They rented two scam centers located adjacent to industrial buildings in Kowloon Bay to disperse risks and increase confidentiality. Most importantly, we noticed that these two scam centers operated in two shifts, aiming to attract more victims around the clock. Never think that participating in some tasks of a criminal group is just a small matter; even if you are only involved in getting to know victims online without direct contact with virtual currency investment, it is still illegal.”
The police stated that the scam group has been operating for at least a year, with criminal profits exceeding 34 million HKD. Five key members, including the mastermind and center leaders, have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering, and were presented in the Eastern District Court on Monday.