Retired executive loses $4.5 million in online job scam

A retired senior executive from Hong Kong has fallen victim to a sophisticated online job scam, losing approximately 3.5 million Hong Kong dollars (about $450,000 USD) in just two months. The scam targeted individuals seeking part-time employment, promising high returns for simple tasks.

The executive was lured by an advertisement on Instagram for a job that involved boosting ratings on hotel booking platforms. After expressing interest, they were contacted via WhatsApp and instructed to register on a fraudulent website. Over two months, the scammer repeatedly requested the victim deposit funds into over 20 different personal bank accounts, claiming these were "work account top-ups" necessary to complete tasks and earn rewards.

To build trust, the scammers initially returned about 50,000 Hong Kong dollars (around $6,400 USD), falsely presenting it as earned income. This partial refund convinced the victim to make over 70 transfers before realizing the deception. The total amount lost reached nearly 3.5 million Hong Kong dollars.

Hong Kong police have reported a significant increase in similar job scam cases, receiving nearly 30 reports in the past week alone. These incidents have resulted in collective losses exceeding 8 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately $1 million USD). Authorities are urging the public to exercise extreme caution with job offers that promise easy work and high pay, warning against clicking on suspicious links or transferring money to unknown accounts. They also recommend using the AI-powered "Scameter" app to assess the risk of potential scams before engaging in any financial transactions.