Hong Kong Police have sounded the alarm regarding a significant increase in WhatsApp scams, which have resulted in reported losses exceeding HK$20 million in the first quarter of this year. The Cybersecurity and Technology Crime Bureau of the city has expressed deep concern over this surge and is taking proactive measures to combat the escalating threat through enhanced intelligence operations, international collaborations, and public education initiatives.
During the period between January and March, the bureau recorded a total of 864 cases of messaging account hijackings, with WhatsApp users being the primary target. These incidents led to substantial financial losses amounting to HK$20.4 million. Despite a decline in reported cases towards the end of 2023 due to increased police activity and awareness campaigns, recent months have witnessed a troubling resurgence of such fraudulent activities.
Senior Superintendent Leung Oi-lam, speaking at a press briefing, disclosed that the tactics employed by scammers have not evolved significantly, but their effectiveness remains intact. Typically, fraudsters pose as customer service representatives from WhatsApp, enticing victims to visit phishing websites where they surreptitiously gain control over their accounts. Once access is acquired, the scammers exploit the victim's contacts, perpetuating the cycle of fraud.
Chief Inspector Leung Yee-tak of the bureau highlighted that these phishing sites undergo constant modifications, making them increasingly difficult to identify. In the early months of 2024 alone, more than 300 deceptive links have been identified. To address the issue of low detection rates of cybercrimes, which have historically ranged between 7.6% and 17.4%, the police are strengthening cooperation with international law enforcement agencies and technology companies.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and advising them to verify any unfamiliar requests for money by directly contacting friends or family members. They also recommend utilizing tools such as the police's "Scameter" app, which helps identify potential scams. Given the pervasive nature of these scams, continued public awareness and adherence to safe online practices are crucial in combating this digital menace.
香港警方發出警告，WhatsApp詐騙案激增，損失超過2,000萬港元
香港警方對WhatsApp詐騙案件的大幅增加提出警示，今年第一季度報告的損失超過2,000萬港元。該市的網絡安全及科技罪案調查科形容這一增長令人擔憂，並通過加強情報行動、國際合作和公眾教育計劃來努力遏制這一不斷升級的威脅。
在1月至3月期間，調查科記錄了864宗訊息帳戶被劫持的案件，主要以WhatsApp用戶為目標，導致損失達2,040萬港元。儘管由於警方活動和宣傳活動的增加，2023年底報告的案件數量有所下降，但最近幾個月這類詐騙案件出現了令人擔憂的反彈。
高級警司梁愛琳在新聞發佈會上透露，詐騙分子的策略並未有顯著改變，但其有效性仍然存在。詐騙者通常冒充WhatsApp的客戶服務代表，引誘受害者訪問釣魚網站，暗中掌握用戶帳戶的控制權。一旦獲取訪問權限，詐騙者就會對受害者的聯繫人進行攻擊，從而不斷進行詐騙活動。
調查科的總督察梁以德指出，這些釣魚網站不斷進行修改，使其更難識別。僅在2024年初的幾個月中，就已識別出300多個欺騙性連結。為解決網絡犯罪的低檢測率問題（歷史上一直在7.6％至17.4％之間），警方正在加強與國際执法機構和科技公司的合作。
當局呼籲公眾保持警惕，建議他們通過直接聯繫朋友或家人來驗證任何不熟悉的財務請求。他們還建議使用警方的“Scameter”應用程序等工具來識別潛在的詐騙案件。鑒於這些詐騙案件的普遍性，持續的公眾意識和遵守安全的網絡使用慣例對於打擊這一數字威脅至關重要。
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