Hong Kong woman, 66, loses HK$2.7 million in money-laundering phone scam

A 66-year-old Hong Kong woman was swindled out of HK$2.7 million (US$344,158) in a phone scam after a caller alleged that her bank account had been involved in money laundering.

Police said the woman, who lives in Sau Mau Ping, told the force at about 5am on Saturday that she had received the call earlier this month from a suspected scammer.

He claimed her bank account, the one she used to buy insurance online, had been involved in money laundering and allegedly instructed her to transfer funds for investigation purposes.

The victim first transferred HK$2 million, then a further HK$700,000, into two bank accounts designated by the scammer.

She later came to suspect she had been defrauded and contacted police.

Police have classified the case as deception and no arrests have been made so far.