Don't be taken in by HK scam

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/EDC091203-0000116/Don-t-be-taken-in-by-HK-scam




Don't be taken in by HK scam

Elaborate new ruse looks like Hong Kong tourism flyer
05:55 AM Dec 03, 2009


SINGAPORE - A new and elaborate version of the lucky draw scam has surfaced here. This one uses fancy brochures to trick Singapore victims into believing they have won a prize from the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

In a typical lucky draw or lottery scam, the culprits call or email victims and trick them into believing they have won prizes.

But in the new variation - which the police say has surfaced in the past month - the victims are first informed through phone calls that they would be receiving letters containing a brochure allegedly issued by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Through the brochure, the victims are told they would be given a chance to take part in a "Scratch and Win" lucky draw, with a top prize of HK$500,000 ($89,000) in cash, conducted by the board in commemoration of its 30-year anniversary.

In most cases, the victims who removed the scratch-off label would find the winning lucky draw code of "HK6888" - leading them to believe they have won the top prize.

To claim their prizes, however, the victims would have to call a Hong Kong telephone number. And if they do so, they would be instructed to pay various fees so that the "winnings" can be released.

After remitting several payments to the culprits, the victims would eventually catch on to the scam.

According to the police, the Hong Kong Tourism Board "does not conduct any lottery advertising activity by telephone or mail".

Members of the public who encounter the scam should should inform the police immediately.



More information on scams: www.spf.gov.sg and www.cad.gov.sg.