Hong Kong Police: 12,505 Online Shopping Fraud Cases Reported in 2025, Largest Single Case Involves Cryptocurrency Loss Exceeding HKD 3.7 Million

Odaily News Hong Kong police announced that a total of 12,505 online shopping fraud cases were reported in 2025, an increase of 8.2% compared to 2024. The online shopping fraud case with the largest single loss amount for the year involved a cryptocurrency transaction. The victim joined a cryptocurrency trading group on Telegram and received a private message from a member in the group impersonating a Bittwatt (BWT) customer service representative, who requested a "verification code" as group entry verification. Subsequently, the scammer transferred all the virtual assets from the victim's cryptocurrency wallet connected to Telegram, resulting in a total loss exceeding HKD 3.7 million. The police remind the public to contact customer service through official channels when shopping online. Regardless of the form of transfer, always verify authenticity before making payments, carefully check payment details, and never click on unknown or suspicious links. (Hong Kong Commercial Daily)