ICAC advises public to stay vigilant against scammers impersonating graft-fighters and collecting cash in person
2025-4-28
It has come to the attention of the ICAC that fraudsters who, by posing as ICAC officers and Mainland officials, requested victims to transfer substantial payments or collected cash in person from citizens for “priority investigation”, falsely claiming that they were under investigation by the Mainland Public Security authorities and the ICAC for money laundering, fraud or other criminal offences. The Commission solemnly clarifies that under no circumstances would citizens be asked to make any payment for “priority investigation” or investigation purposes, and urges members of the public to be cautious.
The ICAC had recently received a number of reports from local residents alleging phone scams involving impersonation of ICAC officers. The victims, including a local retiree and a tertiary student, received calls from scammers posing as mainland officials who told them they were being investigated by the Mainland Public Security authorities and the ICAC for money laundering, fraud or other criminal offences. The fraudsters then requested the victims, through phone calls and text messages, to transfer hundred thousand dollars to over one million dollars from their bank accounts to the ICAC for “priority investigation” and falsely claimed that the victims would be refunded upon completion of investigation. To lower their guard, the scammers showed the victims forged documents titled “Priority Investigation Letter”, “ICAC Officer Authorisation Letter”, etc.
As some of the victims failed to make payments through bank transfer, the fraudsters sent associates posing as ICAC officers or Mainland officials to collect a total of $450,000 in cash from them either at home or a public place. A victim was coaxed into verifying the caller ID online and found that it matched with that of an office of the Mainland authorities. In two weeks, the victim made various transactions, transferring around $2 million to bank accounts said to be of ICAC officers provided by the scammer. It was revealed that the above caller ID was altered by the scammer with spoofing technique and the calls were never made by any office of the Mainland authorities.
The victims subsequently filed reports with the ICAC on suspicion of deception. As the case involves impersonation of ICAC officers, the Commission has launched an investigation into the matter.
The ICAC urges members of the public to heighten their vigilance. Under no circumstances would the ICAC request citizens to pay money for “priority investigation” or investigation purposes. Citizens should stay vigilant against phony calls and beware of scammers using caller ID spoofing technique to pose as officers of the ICAC and other law enforcement agencies to contact them. If in doubt, members of the public should contact the ICAC or relevant law enforcement agencies for enquiry directly on phony calls, text messages or emails.
Should there be any suspicions on impersonating ICAC officers, members of the public are advised to immediately make enquiries to or file reports with the ICAC at its 24-hour hotline: 25 266 366.
The ICAC had recently received a number of reports from local residents alleging phone scams involving impersonation of ICAC officers. The victims, including a local retiree and a tertiary student, received calls from scammers posing as mainland officials who told them they were being investigated by the Mainland Public Security authorities and the ICAC for money laundering, fraud or other criminal offences. The fraudsters then requested the victims, through phone calls and text messages, to transfer hundred thousand dollars to over one million dollars from their bank accounts to the ICAC for “priority investigation” and falsely claimed that the victims would be refunded upon completion of investigation. To lower their guard, the scammers showed the victims forged documents titled “Priority Investigation Letter”, “ICAC Officer Authorisation Letter”, etc.
As some of the victims failed to make payments through bank transfer, the fraudsters sent associates posing as ICAC officers or Mainland officials to collect a total of $450,000 in cash from them either at home or a public place. A victim was coaxed into verifying the caller ID online and found that it matched with that of an office of the Mainland authorities. In two weeks, the victim made various transactions, transferring around $2 million to bank accounts said to be of ICAC officers provided by the scammer. It was revealed that the above caller ID was altered by the scammer with spoofing technique and the calls were never made by any office of the Mainland authorities.
The victims subsequently filed reports with the ICAC on suspicion of deception. As the case involves impersonation of ICAC officers, the Commission has launched an investigation into the matter.
The ICAC urges members of the public to heighten their vigilance. Under no circumstances would the ICAC request citizens to pay money for “priority investigation” or investigation purposes. Citizens should stay vigilant against phony calls and beware of scammers using caller ID spoofing technique to pose as officers of the ICAC and other law enforcement agencies to contact them. If in doubt, members of the public should contact the ICAC or relevant law enforcement agencies for enquiry directly on phony calls, text messages or emails.
Should there be any suspicions on impersonating ICAC officers, members of the public are advised to immediately make enquiries to or file reports with the ICAC at its 24-hour hotline: 25 266 366.
