Woman charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering revealed in ICAC probe into impersonation phone scam
2023-3-24
Following the receipt of a complaint alleging impersonation of ICAC officers in phone scams, the Commission concluded an investigation and revealed that a woman was suspected to have visited Hong Kong upon a friend’s request to open bank accounts, which were subsequently operated by others to handle payments in phone scams. The woman was charged by the ICAC with conspiracy to commit money laundering today (March 24) and the case will be brought to the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts for mention tomorrow (March 25).
Hu Qingzhu, 39, was charged today upon her arrival in Hong Kong. She faces one count of conspiracy to deal with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
It is alleged that between November 2018 and March 2019, the defendant conspired with others to handle various sums of Hong Kong dollar and United States dollar, totalling about HK$600,000, in her bank accounts at Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOCHK).
The investigation arose from a complaint filed with the Commission alleging impersonation of ICAC officers in phone scams. In November 2018, the defendant allegedly visited Hong Kong to open three bank accounts at BOCHK upon the request of a friend she came to know through a social media online platform, and let others operate them. During the account opening process, she allegedly made false representations about her educational level and employment status.
Enquiries also revealed that scammers allegedly asked phone scam victims to deposit various sums of money into the defendant’s bank accounts, purportedly for asset clearance or investigation.
An ICAC spokesperson stresses that the Commission would not request members of the public to make transfers to designated bank accounts for asset clearance or investigation. Should members of the public receive any transfer requests made by people claimed to be ICAC officers, they are urged not to follow such instructions and report the matter to the ICAC at its hotline: 25 266 366.
BOCHK has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.
Hu Qingzhu, 39, was charged today upon her arrival in Hong Kong. She faces one count of conspiracy to deal with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance and Section 159A of the Crimes Ordinance.
It is alleged that between November 2018 and March 2019, the defendant conspired with others to handle various sums of Hong Kong dollar and United States dollar, totalling about HK$600,000, in her bank accounts at Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOCHK).
The investigation arose from a complaint filed with the Commission alleging impersonation of ICAC officers in phone scams. In November 2018, the defendant allegedly visited Hong Kong to open three bank accounts at BOCHK upon the request of a friend she came to know through a social media online platform, and let others operate them. During the account opening process, she allegedly made false representations about her educational level and employment status.
Enquiries also revealed that scammers allegedly asked phone scam victims to deposit various sums of money into the defendant’s bank accounts, purportedly for asset clearance or investigation.
An ICAC spokesperson stresses that the Commission would not request members of the public to make transfers to designated bank accounts for asset clearance or investigation. Should members of the public receive any transfer requests made by people claimed to be ICAC officers, they are urged not to follow such instructions and report the matter to the ICAC at its hotline: 25 266 366.
BOCHK has rendered full assistance to the ICAC during its investigation into the case.