æ’²æ» ç½ªè¡Œå§”å“¡æœƒFight Crime Committee - 保安局

Advance Fee Fraud (or West African “4-1-9” Fraud) 2
3.14 There were 6 reported cases of Advance Fee Fraud in 2009, a
decrease of 8 cases compared to 14 cases reported in 2008. Relevant figures are
as follows –
2008 2009 % Change
No. of Reported Cases 14 6 –57.1%
No. of Persons Arrested 0 0 -
3.15 The use of fictitious and hidden e-mail addresses increases the
difficulty in tracing the perpetrators. To tackle this type of crime, active liaison
with the Internet service providers continues in order to terminate fraudulent e-
mail addresses and other frauds perpetrated through the Internet. Active
publicity over the last few years has helped educate the public to ignore these
spoof emails.
Bankruptcy-related Fraud
3.16 Bankruptcy-related Fraud saw a decreasing trend in recent years.
However, due to the recent economic turmoil in 2008, there was an increase in
this type of fraud. In 2009, there was an increase in the number of suspected
Bankruptcy-related Fraud reports. During the year, the Police received 27 such
reports, an increase of 7 cases compared to 2008. Reported losses increased
from $1.34 million in 2008 to $2.54 million in 2009. The relevant figures are as
follows –
2008 2009 % Change
No. of Complaints 20 27 +35.0%
Total Reported Losses
($ million)
1.34 2.54 +89.6%
3.17 Since 2000, 137 persons have been prosecuted for failing to disclose
their existing liabilities when applying for loans or credit. A total of 116 persons
have been convicted of related offences and received sentences ranging from
probation orders, community service orders to a maximum of 10 months’
imprisonment. 21 defendants have been acquitted during this period.
2
These frauds were originally perpetrated mainly by West Africans. They comprise typical “4-1-9” (named
after the corresponding offence in the Nigerian Penal Code) emails which allege that huge sums of money
have been left intestate to prospective victims, who are required to pay handling fees to the fraudsters via
HKSAR bank accounts to release the alleged funds kept in trust. In recent years, it has become more
apparent that increasingly non-West Africans are perpetrating this type of fraud.
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