Four persons arrested for conspiracy to cheat in Yau Ma Tei
*********************************************************** Police today (September 8) believed to have smashed a syndicate suspected to have cheated tourists at gambling following the arrest of four persons in Yau Ma Tei.
Since January 2005, Yau Tsim District has received a total of five reports of tourists being cheated with similar modus operandi. The District Crime Squad of Yau Tsim (DCS/YT) took up the investigations.
Enquiries revealed that the swindler usually approached an expatriate tourist in shopping areas and claimed that the swindler's relatives were going to study in victim's country. The victims were then invited to go to the swindler's home to meet their relatives.
Upon arrival, the victims would be lured to play card games during which they would be asked to raise money by purchasing gold ornaments with their credit cards in order for them to collect sufficient betting money. One of the swindlers would then take chance to escape with victimˇ¦s properties.
At about 11.30 am today, officers of Taskforce of Tsim Sha Tsui (TF/TST) Division spotted two Filipino women approaching a 29-year-old male Japanese tourist on Haiphong Road. They were seen entering a guesthouse on Temple Street. Officers of DCS/YT and TF/TST immediately laid ambush nearby.
At about 4 pm, the Japanese tourist was seen leaving the guesthouse with two Filipino women. Police officers then intercepted them for enquiries and arrested the two Filipino women, aged 27 and 49.
Two Filipino men, aged 48 and 56, were arrested during a subsequent search in the guesthouse where a quantity of suspected counterfeited US banknotes and some gambling paraphernalia were seized.
The four persons, arrested for conspiracy to cheat at gambling, are still being detained for enquiries.
Investigations by DCS/YT are continuing.
Police Report No.13
*********************************************************** Police today (September 8) believed to have smashed a syndicate suspected to have cheated tourists at gambling following the arrest of four persons in Yau Ma Tei.
Since January 2005, Yau Tsim District has received a total of five reports of tourists being cheated with similar modus operandi. The District Crime Squad of Yau Tsim (DCS/YT) took up the investigations.
Enquiries revealed that the swindler usually approached an expatriate tourist in shopping areas and claimed that the swindler's relatives were going to study in victim's country. The victims were then invited to go to the swindler's home to meet their relatives.
Upon arrival, the victims would be lured to play card games during which they would be asked to raise money by purchasing gold ornaments with their credit cards in order for them to collect sufficient betting money. One of the swindlers would then take chance to escape with victimˇ¦s properties.
At about 11.30 am today, officers of Taskforce of Tsim Sha Tsui (TF/TST) Division spotted two Filipino women approaching a 29-year-old male Japanese tourist on Haiphong Road. They were seen entering a guesthouse on Temple Street. Officers of DCS/YT and TF/TST immediately laid ambush nearby.
At about 4 pm, the Japanese tourist was seen leaving the guesthouse with two Filipino women. Police officers then intercepted them for enquiries and arrested the two Filipino women, aged 27 and 49.
Two Filipino men, aged 48 and 56, were arrested during a subsequent search in the guesthouse where a quantity of suspected counterfeited US banknotes and some gambling paraphernalia were seized.
The four persons, arrested for conspiracy to cheat at gambling, are still being detained for enquiries.
Investigations by DCS/YT are continuing.
Police Report No.13
Ends/Thursday, September 8, 2005
Issued at HKT 20:55
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