Online dating scams in hong kong

How common are online romance scams in Hong Kong?

Online romance scams concerning beauty services were one of the major categories – though it is not known how many involve the companies acting in concert with the sales agents. of online romance scams, a 422 per cent rise from 2016. Victims were duped out of as much as HK$454.8 million (US$58 million).

What are the best dating apps in Hong Kong?

Bumble: Designed for women, after you match with someone, the girl has to initiate the conversation. Tinder is one of the most popular dating platforms in the world. The platform is easy to use, has lots of active users and its also very popular in Hong Kong – over 1/3 of our respondents use Tinder.

How many romance scams does police handle each year?

Police handled 1,659 reports of online romance scams last year, up from 905 cases the previous year. Photo: Shutterstock

Are more dating apps making us more vulnerable to scams?

With more dating apps comes greater potential for scams. Photo: Alamy “At first he suggested going out for a drink, but then he said we should enjoy a massage together in Mong Kok afterwards. When I said I didn’t want a massage, he kept pushing me, asking me to pay for one,” Pammy says.

What is the Hong Kong romance scam?

In October, a joint operation by Hong Kong, Malaysian and Singaporean police arrested a total of 52 people and smashed a transnational online romance scam ring that police said duped had more than 140 people out of a total of HK$110 million. In such cases, fraudsters usually use social media to approach and develop relationships with victims.

How many people have been duped by online dating scams in Hong Kong?

681 people in Hong Kong were duped out of their savings between January and September this year In Hong Kong, women are particularly susceptible to online dating scams. Data from Hong Kong police shows that nearly 90% of the known victims this year were women aged 15 to 85, who collectively lost about HK$160.8m.

How many romance scams does police handle each year?

Police handled 1,659 reports of online romance scams last year, up from 905 cases the previous year. Photo: Shutterstock

What is the new romance cryptocurrency scam?

The new romance cryptocurrency scam has exploited targets and extorted Hong Kong (HK) Dollar 143.6 million (US$18.5 million) this year. The latest data reveals that romance scams have increased by 54 percent, which accounts for over 600 cases in 2020 to date as opposed to 391 cases last year.

Are dating apps a security risk?

Check Point warns that dating apps have become a ready source of actionable data for cyber criminals-whether that data is pulled through a vulnerability or just tricked out of users by social engineering. Remember, there are many ways to pull IDs and passwords, it doesn’t have to be as direct as this.

How much money are people losing on dating apps?

Over the past five years, singles on dating apps reported losing an estimated $1.3 billion from romance scams, making them the most costly type of fraud in the US, according to the FTC. Netflix s February documentary The Tinder Swindler explored the issue and reignited conversation about con artists who hide in plain sight on dating apps.

Why are dating apps becoming so popular?

In this domain, people are much more free, they share much more private information, more pictures, thoughts and ideas than you will find on regular social media platforms. Dating apps are an escape.” Check Point also points out that targeting an individual may be a route into their organization, it may be simply a point of leverage.

Are dating apps a source of cybercrime?

Check Point warns that dating apps have become a ready source of actionable data for cyber criminals—whether that data is pulled through a vulnerability or just tricked out of users by social engineering. Remember, there are many ways to pull IDs and passwords, it doesn’t have to be as direct as this.