Covid-19: How Hong Kong phone scammers are trying to cash in on pandemic

Posing as government officials, swindlers tell their intended victims there are ‘anomalies’ with their health, before trying to get them to divulge bank details. The HK police force has issued a scam alert. — SCMP

Telephone con artists are taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic by posing as health officials to find potential victims, Hong Kong police have warned.

The new ruse has prompted the force’s Anti-Deception Coordination Centre to issue a scam alert. The centre warned the public that the swindlers impersonated Department of Health workers, and told their victims that “there were some anomalies” regarding their health, before asking for their bank details in order to steal their money.