Common con tricks

Telephone deception

The scam here involves the culprit calling the victim by telephone and assuming the identity of one of the victim's relatives, friends or business associates. The culprit claims that he/she is experiencing financial difficulties and in need of money. The victim is asked to deposit or transfer money into a designated bank account provided by the culprit. The victim subsequently discovers the call to be bogus. The police investigation reveals that the culprit opened the bank account by using either a bogus or stolen ID card. Alternatively, the account was opened by someone other than the fraudster.

The culprit usuall makes calls to the victim, pretending to be the staff of courier company, bank or telecommunication company or sometimes an official of local or mainaland law enforcement department. The culprit claim that that the victim committed crimes contrary to the laws of mainland China, asking him to deposit or transfer money into a designated bank account provided by the culprit in order to settle the matter.

Advice

• Make up a code word, (for family members only) to be used in emergencies;
• Tell the relative, friend or business, or organization you will call them back on their known number to verify the story;
• Do not transfer any money under any circumstances; and
• Make a report to police if you suspect the call to be bogus.