Beware of Online Posts on Pet Giving

2023-02-01

Defrauding Tricks

Having seen an online post on pet giving, a member of the public contacted the post author for more details. The scammer claimed that she lived overseas and intended to send her cat back to Hong Kong for adoption. The adopter would be required to settle various charges and insurance fees with cryptocurrency. The victim subsequently opened a cryptocurrency account as instructed and transferred money to the scammer’s e-wallet. The scammer later said the victim would be entitled to a handsome compensation as the cat died during delivery but the latter had to pay a guarantee before receiving the total amount of compensation. The victim followed the instruction accordingly.   

The victim only realised it was a scam having purchased cryptocurrency valued at around HK$6 million which were then all transferred to the scammer’s e-wallet.

Our Advice

• Be cautious and protect yourself from scams when making friends on the Internet;
• Be discerning and don’t believe online strangers who request your money for any reason. Do verify their identities;
• Remind your relatives and friends to stay vigilant against deception;
• If in doubt, please call the “Anti-Scam Helpline 18222” for enquiries.