Hong Kong loses HK$350 million to online shopping scams in 2025

Hong Kong police report that online shopping scams cost residents about HK$350 million (US$44.8 million) from January to November 2025, with cases up 8% year on year. Around 63% involved bogus concert ticket sales.

Internet fraudsters cheated Hong Kong consumers out of about HK$350 million (US$44.8 million) through online shopping scams between January and November 2025, while the number of such cases grew by 8 per cent year on year. According to figures released on Friday, 11,449 online shopping scams were reported in the first 11 months of last year, up from 10,576 for the same period in 2024 and 8,332 in 2023. Total losses in 2025 for such cases reached about HK$350 million, matching the figure for the same period the previous year. In comparison, losses stood at around HK$170 million between January and November 2023.

Police also said that about 63 per cent of cases over the period involved bogus concert ticket sales, while another 9 per cent were related to fake sales of electronic goods. Superintendent Cheung Hau-yee of the force’s cybersecurity and technology crime bureau noted the trend remained upwards, but said: “The rate of increase has shown obvious signs of slowing down.” She pointed to an 8 per cent increase in the number of cases from 2024 to 2025, compared with a 27 per cent rise from 2023 to 2024.

These figures, released on February 6, 2026, highlight the ongoing challenge of online fraud in Hong Kong. While case numbers rose, stable losses suggest some improvement.

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Illustration of crypto crime surge: hackers using AI to steal $17B in scams per Chainalysis report, with charts, bitcoins, and law enforcement seizures.
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Chainalysis 2026 Report: $17 Billion in 2025 Crypto Scams Amid Surging AI Fraud and Hacks

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The Chainalysis 2026 Crypto Crime Report, published January 13, 2026, reveals at least $14 billion stolen in 2025 scams—projected to reach $17 billion—driven by a 1,400% surge in AI-boosted impersonation tactics, amid broader losses including $4 billion from hacks per PeckShield and $154 billion in total illicit volumes linked to nation-state actors.

Hong Kong customs has intercepted more than 83,000 counterfeit items worth about HK$36 million (US$4.62 million) in a recent crackdown. Authorities warn that criminals are using the heightened holiday season demand as a 'smokescreen' to move illicit goods to Europe and the Americas. The operation uncovered 28 cases involving a diverse range of fake luxury products aimed at high-spending markets worldwide.

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Hong Kong’s Consumer Council has called on businesses to improve services for elderly customers after receiving more than 9,200 complaints over the past three years. The number peaked at 3,827 in 2024. One case involved a woman who spent hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars on beauty treatments.

Hong Kong police have detained 15 Hong Kong residents in connection with a robbery involving about ¥1 billion in cash from a Japanese company's employees. The theft took place in central Hong Kong, and the stolen money has not been recovered.

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An elderly doctor couple in south delhi's greater kailash lost rs 14 crore to fraudsters in a digital arrest scam. The ruse began with a call from a fake trai official on december 24, 2025, and kept them on video calls for 17 days. The fraud came to light in january 2026, prompting a police investigation.

Hong Kong saw a 25% increase in inbound visitors on New Year's Eve despite cancelling its traditional fireworks display due to the deadly Tai Po fire. Immigration Department figures show 195,798 arrivals that day, including 148,435 from mainland China. Meanwhile, outbound trips by locals rose by nearly 21%.

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A recent report indicates that 58 percent of people in Britain encountered significant online risks during 2025. The rise in AI usage has contributed to a decline in digital trust, according to the findings. Fraud and cyberbullying emerged as the primary concerns.

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