Hong Kong Police Report Rise in Online Shopping Scams in 2025

Hong Kong police have reported a significant increase in online shopping scams in 2025, with a total of 12,505 cases, marking an 8.2% rise compared to 2024. According to Odaily, the largest single loss in these scams involved cryptocurrency transactions. The victim joined a cryptocurrency trading group on Telegram, where a member impersonated Bittwatt (BWT) customer service and requested a 'verification code' for group entry. Subsequently, the scammer transferred all virtual assets from the victim's cryptocurrency wallet linked to Telegram, resulting in a loss exceeding HKD 3.7 million. Police advise contacting customer service through official channels when shopping online, verifying the authenticity of any transaction before payment, and carefully checking payment details. They also warn against clicking on unknown or suspicious links.