According to the Hong Kong Commercial Daily, the Hong Kong Police reported 12,505 cases of online shopping fraud in 2025, an 8.2% increase from 2024. The single largest financial loss from an online shopping fraud case involved cryptocurrency transactions: the victim joined a Telegram group for cryptocurrency trading and received a private message from a member impersonating Bittwatt (BWT) customer service, requesting a “verification code” for group access. The scammer then transferred all virtual assets from the victim’s linked cryptocurrency wallet, resulting in total losses exceeding HK$3.7 million. The police remind the public to contact customer service only through official channels when shopping online, to verify the authenticity of any request involving transfers before making payments, and to carefully check payment details—never click on unknown or suspicious links.
Hong Kong Police reported 12,505 online shopping scams in 2025, with the largest loss involving crypto theft of HKD 3.7 million.
TechFlowShare
Summary
In 2025, Hong Kong police recorded 12,505 cases of online shopping scams, an 8.2% increase from the previous year. The largest loss occurred in a crypto scam involving HKD 3.7 million stolen after a victim shared a verification code in a fake Bittwatt Telegram group; scammers subsequently drained all linked crypto assets. Authorities urge users to verify all crypto-related information and avoid clicking on suspicious links, recommending contact with verified customer service and double-checking transactions before transferring funds.
Source:Show original
Disclaimer: The information on this page may have been obtained from third parties and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of KuCoin. This content is provided for general informational purposes only, without any representation or warranty of any kind, nor shall it be construed as financial or investment advice. KuCoin shall not be liable for any errors or omissions, or for any outcomes resulting from the use of this information.
Investments in digital assets can be risky. Please carefully evaluate the risks of a product and your risk tolerance based on your own financial circumstances. For more information, please refer to our Terms of Use and Risk Disclosure.