Man arrested over alleged HK$2.8 million Hong Kong school admission scam

A man has been arrested for allegedly defrauding an education consultant of nearly HK$3 million (US$382,500) by claiming he could secure dozens of places at a Hong Kong school, the South China Morning Post has learned.

A police source said on Monday that the suspect, a 51-year-old Hongkonger, who claimed to be a businessman, signed a contract with a woman education consultant, 45, on March 1, 2024, promising to provide dozens of places at a school called “Kiangsu-Chekiang College”.

Believing the claims, the consultant transferred about HK$2.84 million in 23 instalments between April and July 2024 to his mainland Chinese bank account, covering application fees for 37 students, the source added.

He had allegedly promised access to 50 secondary school places at the college, assuring her that her students would also be given guaranteed entry into universities in Hong Kong or Macau regardless of their Diploma of Secondary Education results.