Hong Kong police arrested 61 suspects aged between 17 and 82 in a recent operation targeting phone scams, which have surged by 46% in the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. The operation, code-named “Pebblepace,” dismantled 54 phone scam cases involving over HK$31 million (US$3.95 million).

Chief Inspector Ho Ming-wai stated that from January to May 2026, 3,766 phone scam cases were recorded, resulting in losses of HK$720 million. This marks a 46% increase in cases and a 66% rise in financial losses year on year. The most common scam tactic, accounting for 40% of cases, involved scammers posing as customer service representatives.

Among the victims was a 56-year-old man who was deceived into transferring HK$3 million to a fraudster claiming he had purchased an insurance policy. Ten of the cases involved 22 elderly residents who received calls from scammers impersonating relatives in need of bail money or medical fees, instructing them to hand over cash in person.

The suspects were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud, obtaining property by deception, and money laundering. Police emphasized that most cash-on-delivery phone scams primarily target the elderly and advised residents to remain calm when receiving calls from strangers, verifying the situation through trusted contacts.

Sources