Have you ever received uninvited messages?

Have you ever received any messages that seemed to be sent to the wrong person? These messages may be related to the delivery of furniture, repair appointment, cake delivery, pet adoption, seeking for a blind date, enquiry about private tutoring, wrong parking spot or even noise complaint that has nothing to do with you. These puzzling messages are probably used by scammers to start a conversation with their preys. According to the Hong Kong Police Force, nearly 60% of the victims of online investment fraud cases during the first nine months of 2024 were approached by scammers through instant messaging software, such as WhatsApp.

Those who respond to the messages will soon be solicited to engage in a conversation. And the scammers will show their “friendly” side to gain trust from the potential victims hoping for the ultimate rewards. The scammers may use some of the following tactics:

• Investment scam: scammers may trick the victims into investing their money via fake investment platforms by emphasising the high return or insider tips.
• Online dating scam: the scammers may create a nice and attractive image for themselves, and pretend to love and care about their victims before eventually coaxing them to put money in fraudulent investment schemes or to transfer money to the fraudsters’ accounts.
• "Click farm" scam: by recommending lucrative part-time jobs, the scammers may encourage the victims to top up their accounts on fake websites or apps.

We should handle any unsolicited messages carefully and use the “Report Spam” function to block or restrict the suspicious numbers or accounts. Never trust any investment schemes recommended by strangers online or download any apps from unknown sources. Always find out everything you need to know about the products before investing, and trade through companies or platforms licensed by the Securities & Futures Commission. If you are in doubt, you may verify the phone number or company website using the Police’s Scameter, or call the “Anti-Scam Helpline 18222” for help.