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Police today (November 10) charged a 36-year-old man with two counts of access to computer with dishonest intent, one count each of obtaining property by deception, using false instrument and possession of forged identity document.

The Technology Crime Division (TCD) of Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB) mounted an operation last Saturday (November 8) and arrested a 36-year-old man in connection with a spate of E-auction frauds from two auction websites between January 2002 and November 2003.

A total of 29 online auction sellers reported to Police that they have received dishonoured cheques from a man after selling electronic goods, including computers, cameras and mobile phones, to him. The total value of the goods was about $216,200.

After extensive investigations, TCD officers mounted an operation and intercepted the 36-year-old man in Mong Kok on November 8. Upon searches, a forged Hong Kong identity card and a number of blank cheques in the name of a company were found on him.

Enquiries revealed that the suspect used the email addresses which he hacked from the Internet to register online as auction buyers. Then he used some unauthorised cheques which he allegedly obtained from a cheque book found on the street to buy electronic goods through the internet.

The man was charged today and will appear in Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (November 11).

Police appeal to members of the public to be alert when participating in auctions on or through the Internet and to contact the investigating officers on 2352 9375 or 2860 5012 if being cheated by similar modus operandi.

Police Report No. 4

Issued by PPRB

End/1920 hours, Monday, November 10, 2003 (CS/CA)

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