Local woman loses over MOP1.5 million in online investment scam

The Judiciary Police (PJ) announced yesterday that a middle-aged female resident has reported a loss of MOP1.52 million after falling victim to an online investment scam.

According to police, the victim filed a report on May 17, stating that on February 22 she met an unknown man on a social media app who claimed to be a designer based in Singapore. The two then developed an online romantic relationship.

In April, the man offered to teach the victim how to invest in virtual currency, and she agreed. Following his instructions, the victim downloaded a virtual currency investment app called “TP.”

Later, she was instructed to go to a currency exchange shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, to purchase virtual currency worth HKD10,000, which she then transferred to a third-party account as directed.

The PJ said that after investing for a period, the app showed her account was profitable. This further increased the victim’s trust in the man’s investment advice, and she increased her investment amount as instructed.

From April 2 to May 14, the victim repeatedly injected funds totaling MOP1.48 million.

After sharing the situation with her family, she realized she might have been a victim of a scam.

While she attempted to contact the man and to withdraw the money from her account, both attempts were unsuccessful, prompting her to report the matter to the police.

In a separate case revealed by the PJ at the same press conference, an elderly female resident has reported a loss of HKD831,000 after falling victim to a similar scam, this time involving an investment in gold.

According to police, the victim filed a report on May 15, stating that on February 28 she met an unknown man on a social media app. The man claimed a friend had introduced him to her.

During their conversations, the man claimed to work as an investment manager at a bank in Hong Kong.

After the two allegedly began a romantic relationship, the man suggested she invest in gold, noting that gold prices had been rising and claiming there was no risk.

In March 2026, she transferred HKD30,000 to a designated account for him to invest. The man claimed her investment was profitable, but police said the victim never verified this.

From March 25 to May 15, the man repeatedly requested money from the victim under various pretexts, including his girlfriend’s mental illness, tax payments, investment losses, and being sued.

Police said the total amount requested, including the initial HKD30,000, totaled HKD831,000.

After discussing the matter with friends, the victim realized she had been scammed and filed a police complaint.