Latest Scam Alerts

Beware of Scammers Impersonating Chinese Mainland Tourism Authorities and Falsely Claiming Your “Home Return Permit” has been Misused
2025-08-04

Beware of Scammers Impersonating Chinese Mainland Tourism Authorities and Falsely Claiming Your “Home Return Permit” has been Misused 

The Anti-Deception Coordination Centre has recently discovered multiple cases in which scammers pose as Chinese Mainland tourism authorities of cities including Guangzhou and Shenzhen. A 70-year-old male victim was tricked out of $12 million.

 

Defrauding Tricks

1. Making random calls: Scammers randomly call members of the public, claiming that their identity documents such as Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (commonly known as Home Return Permits) were misused in the Chinese Mainland for setting up companies or processing documents.

2. Transferring calls to bogus police: The scammers then forward the calls to bogus public security officers who claim that an investigation was required.

3. Asking for information: The bogus public security officers ask victims for their bank account information or ask them to download a mobile application and enter their online banking usernames, passwords and one-time passcodes, claiming that it is for investigation.

4. Stealing funds: With the information provided by the victims, the scammers quickly take their bank deposits away.

 

Our Advice

  • Stay alert if you receive phone calls purportedly made by Chinese Mainland tourism authorities. Do not hastily believe the callers’ identities;

  • Do not disclose personal information, including identity card numbers and bank account details;

  • Even if strangers who send you messages are able to tell your personal information, it does not necessarily mean that they are genuine law enforcement officers. Scammers can obtain the personal information of the public by unlawful means;

  • Stay alert to calling numbers with the prefix “+86”, “+67” or “+447”;

  • If you suspect that you have fallen prey to a scam, please call the “Anti-Scam Helpline 18222” for enquiries.