Hong Kong police arrest 31 who used deepfakes to scam victims in Singapore, Malaysia


Police’s commercial crime bureau hold a press conference on an operation against a local syndicate that used deepfake technology to scam victims. - Photo: Edmond So / South China Morning Post

HONG KONG: Hong Kong police have arrested 31 people of a local syndicate that produced deepfake romance and investment scams to defraud victims in Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia, with criminal proceeds exceeding HK$34 million (US$4.37 million).

Police’s commercial crime bureau, which conducted the arrest operation on Thursday and Friday, said the syndicate had rented two premises in neighbouring industrial buildings in Kowloon Bay to conduct their swindles, which involved approaching victims with deepfaked images of good-looking women they found online.

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