Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC) Remittance Fraud against Money Service Operators

2018-08-15

Remittance Fraud against Money Service Operators

Modus Operandi

Recently, it has come to the attention of the Police that fraudsters have been deceiving Money Service Operators (MSO) by showing counterfeit bank deposit slips and identity documents via instant message. They purported that money had been transferred to the account of the MSO and thereby requested remittance service to Mainland accounts. The operators were conned into remitting money as instructed, and later unveiled the scam upon realizing the purported deposits were made by dishonoured cheques.

Our Advice

• Money service operators should request clients to submit by hand the documentation required for customer due diligence process, such as copies of Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards.

• Money service operators should verify requestors' identity documents in person (i.e. face-to-face verification).

• Upon receiving bank deposit slips from requestors, money service operators must confirm with the banks that the transactions are duly completed with actual credits available for use by the money service operators.

• Money service operators should properly maintain their CCTV video records and bank deposit/withdrawal slips to facilitate police investigation in future.

• If you suspect that a remittance involves deception, please call the 24-hour AntiScam Helpline 18222 for immediate advice.

Source: Hong Kong Police Force - Anti-Deception Coordination Centre