The Judiciary Police (PJ) has recently discovered that swindlers randomly send SMS or WhatsApp messages to members of the public. They initiate the conversation with a familiar tone, then say they have got the wrong number and added the user by mistake. Should the victim respond to the messages, they will start chatting with the victim and win the victim’s trust. Next, they will encourage the victim to download a fake investment app, claiming they can earn lucrative profits through investing in the A-share market or cryptocurrencies. They will also pull the victim into WhatsApp groups to obtain "investment tips" and persuade them to join a bogus investment plan.
There are many similar fraud cases in neighboring territories where victims made small profits and successfully cashed their earnings initially but could not withdraw any money from their account after they made a more considerable investment.
PJ urges the public to:
1. Stay vigilant when unfamiliar netizens approach you.
2. Take precautions against investment scams that use small profitable returns as bait. Do not mindlessly follow investment advice that claims sure profits.
3. If you suspect you have encountered fraud, please call the Judiciary Police's Anti-Fraud Enquiry hotline at 8800 7777 or the crime report hotline at 993 for assistance.