2024-10-14 (disclosed) · HK
Hong Kong police break a deepfake romance scam syndicate, 2024
Allegations only; no charges or findings are recorded here.
Hong Kong police announced on 14 October 2024 that they had arrested 27 people for conspiracy to defraud after raiding a 4,000 square foot scam centre in Hung Hom. Police said the syndicate first sent AI-generated photos to people met on social media, then used deepfake technology on video calls to turn scammers into attractive women, and steered victims into investing in cryptocurrency on fraudulent trading platforms; police and press reports said the syndicate recruited university graduates to build them. The Hong Kong government later told the Legislative Council the triad-linked syndicate targeted victims in Hong Kong, the Mainland and elsewhere in Asia, and that the case involved more than HK$360 million.
HK$360M (estimate, about $46M; Amount the Hong Kong government says the case involved (more than HK$360 million); US dollar figure as converted by The Record ($46 million). Not a court finding.)
Timeline
- 2024-10-14 Police announce 27 arrests after raids the previous week, and say they seized computers, phones, luxury watches and about US$25,750 in suspected proceeds.
- 2024-12-18 In a Legislative Council reply the government describes the case as a triad-controlled syndicate using deepfakes in online dating to lure victims into crypto investment.
Lessons
- A live video call is no longer proof that an online partner is real; faces and voices can be swapped in real time.
- Never invest through a platform introduced by someone you have only met online, however convincing their video calls.
- Check a trading platform against your financial regulator's register and warning list before sending money.
Scam types: Deepfake romance scam, Fake trading platform or app
Sources
- Hong Kong Government: LCQ21, Regulation of productions involving artificial intelligence technologies (Security Bureau information on the October 2024 case) (Law enforcement, primary, accessed 2026-09-24)
- The Record: Hong Kong police bust fraud ring that used face-swapping tech for romance scams (News report, secondary, accessed 2026-09-24)