Hong Kong Police Arrest Six in Cryptocurrency Scam Operation

Hong Kong police have launched an operation named 'Thunder Drum' targeting a scam group that used low-interest loans as a pretext to collect cryptocurrency deposits. According to ChainCatcher, the operation led to the arrest of three men and three women, aged between 29 and 63, across various districts in Hong Kong over two days. The suspects are accused of conspiracy to defraud, with some having connections to organized crime. The investigation is ongoing. Since November 2025, the scam group has been impersonating bank employees through random phone calls to promote low-interest loans. Victims were lured to a fake office in Central, rented under a shell company, to sign contracts and were asked to pay a deposit as proof of assets. Payment methods included cash, bank transfers to puppet accounts, and cryptocurrency, with the latter mainly targeting older individuals or those unfamiliar with technology. A total of 13 victims, from diverse backgrounds including business owners and individuals with higher education degrees, have been affected, suffering a combined loss of approximately HKD 5 million. Police have seized various documents and computers as evidence during the operation.