Criminologists have urged members of the public to remain vigilant if engaging in online relationships and to immediately terminate ties once any dangerous signals are detected.

Their warnings came as Hong Kong logged over 50 cyber-romance scams over the past two weeks, including a woman who lost nearly HK$2 million ($255,000) in a “pig-butchering” scam.

A post on Monday morning on CyberDefender — a police Facebook page publicizing anti-fraud information — highlighted a case involving a 47-year-old local woman who met a man on WhatsApp claiming to be engaged in gold investments in the United States (US).

READ MORE: Fraud cases drive HK crime rate increase in 2023

After developing an online relationship with the man, the woman was persuaded to transfer her life savings — HK$300,000 — into three personal bank accounts. The scammer further required her to make additional investments.

Despite warnings from friends that it was a classic “pig-butchering scam” — scammers posing as wealthy individuals who seek to develop romantic relationships online with victims before luring them into making increasingly large investments that ultimately lead to huge losses — the victim borrowed an additional HK$1.6 million, converted it into cryptocurrency stablecoin Tether, and deposited it into a designated e-wallet at the scammer’s request.

The victim eventually realized she had been defrauded after confiding in her family, but by then, the scammers had disappeared, leaving her with losses of nearly HK$2 million racked up in just two weeks.

The post reminds people to avoid falling for online romance scams by insisting on meeting the person face-to-face, remaining rational and rejecting unrealistic investment tips.

The police’s one-stop scam and pitfall search engine, Scameter, can also be used to assess fraud risks, said the post.

“Victims typically crave love and companionship,” police clinical psychologist Woo Chin-pang told China Daily. “Scammers exploit this vulnerability by creating fake identities and offering emotional support.”

While online romance scams have been occurring over many years, increased public awareness and victims’ desire to recover their losses may be contributing to the high report rate, said Woo.

Another local criminologist, Dennis Wong Sing-wing, explained that scammers often present themselves as educated professionals — claiming to be managers or engineers — while sharing personal feelings to bond with victims.

Some victims, who are often lonely and longing for connection, often maintain contact with the scammer even if they are aware of the risk of being defrauded, and console themselves by believing they can “always report (the crime) to the police later”.

However, Wong noted that scammers operate subtly, initially requesting small sums to build trust. Once confidence is established, they exploit the victim’s empathy or material desires to extract larger amounts.

Anyone can fall victim — regardless of education level or social status — depending on one’s psychological state at the time, warned Wong.

Citing global data and local cases, Woo observed that women report such scams more frequently, though he suspects many male victims avoid reporting in order to preserve their sense of dignity.

Woo advised members of the public to stay vigilant when chatting with people online, “especially if conversations steer toward money, investments, or ‘exclusive opportunities’.”

Woo also highlighted the dual trauma victims face: financial loss and emotional devastation, which can lead to lasting distrust and an unwillingness to form new relationships. He urged victims to report scams immediately and confide in their loved ones, who should offer support, not blame.

READ MORE: Residents need effective alerts against cyberfraud

“Shaming victims may exacerbate their mental health crises,” said Woo.

Wong urged the public to carefully verify facts and remain vigilant. “Victims should proactively seek advice from trusted friends or family, disclosing details about new online acquaintances to gain advice,” he said.

Ongoing public awareness campaigns by the police to reinforce anti-fraud messaging is also essential, added Wong.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com