Thirty-three people have been arrested following the bust of a cross-boundary credit card fraud syndicate targeting SAR residents traveling to Shenzhen. The police believe the gang, which is linked to at least 60 fraud cases involving over HK$1.8 million, primarily targeted residents in Shenzhen who had visited popular tourist spots or entertainment venues. These individuals were reported to have not checked their belongings at these locations before returning home, only realizing their cards had been stolen and used after receiving abnormal transaction alerts from their banks. Investigations revealed that the gang stole credit cards from Hong Kong residents in Shenzhen and brought them back to the SAR to shop at different stores before reselling the items the same day and fleeing the territory. Superintendent Tsang Chun-kit explained that the syndicate mistakenly believed they could evade arrest by leaving the Special Administrative Region; however, the Hong Kong police force has been in close communication with mainland law enforcement authorities. Arrests were made in Hong Kong, with 11 men and five women aged between 17 and 45, and in Shenzhen, where 11 men and six women aged 36 to 56 were apprehended.
The police highlighted the challenges of combating cross-border crimes and the importance of continued cooperation between Hong Kong and mainland authorities. Tsang added that this criminal activity is part of a broader trend of credit card theft in the region, and the police are stepping up efforts to combat such crimes. The exact locations and methods of operation by the gang remain under investigation.