Recently, on the 24th and 26th, an endgame party invited the elders to play a game after setting up a chess endgame on the street, and stole or robbed the victim's belongings while he was concentrating on the game. Police arrested three men with two-way permits at Mong Kok and Lok Ma Chau ports yesterday morning (28th) on suspicion of "conspiracy to defraud", "pickpocketing" and "robbery", and seized chess suspected involvement in the crime, clothing worn at the time of the crime and props of the "Prayer Party" at their hiding places. Police believe the gang began street scams in February and do not rule out more arrests.

(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)

On May 5 and 24 respectively, the Police received two reports in Wan Chai and Hung Kai respectively alleging that criminal gangs were setting up chess games on the streets. Senior Inspector Chan King Lok, Head of Serious Crime Unit 26 of Wan Chai District, explained the tricks of the scammers, pointing out that some of the four members of the crime gang would first set up a chess endgame on the street and target the elderly and invite them to see them, while the other three would "make a piece", playing the role of bystanders, provoking the victims with words, inducing them to make high bets, and even taking out valuable property for detention. Some victims were stripped of their belongings while concentrating on the chess game, while others were directly robbed of their wallets, involving a total of about 9400,<> yuan.

After investigation, the Police arrested three men with two-way permits at Mong Kok and Lok Ma Chau ports yesterday morning (28th), arrested three men (aged between 3 and 49) for "conspiracy to defraud", "pickpocketing" and "robbery", and seized chess suspected of being involved in the case, clothing worn by the suspect at the time of the crime and cash of about $65,200. In addition, the Police discovered that a hotel room in Mong Kok contained a large number of props used as "prayer parties", including Taoist robes, fortune telling posters, more than <> amulets and rattles.

The Police believe that the gang began to carry out various street deception cases in various districts of Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories in February, and is investigating whether the gang will be involved in more cases, which cannot rule out that more people will be arrested. Their modus operandi differs slightly from ordinary prayer party scams, mainly by pretending to be a Taoist priest or monk, charging a three- to four-figure fee, using a Buddhist bell to help the victim pray, make a Buddhist finger or quantum fortune telling, or sell different forms of amulets in order to defraud the victim of property. Since the victim may not know that he has been deceived, and the amount of money deceived is small, he may not report the crime. Police urge members of the public to beware of street scams, pay attention to the traditional "Prayer Party", "Money Borrowing Party", "Treasure Medicine Party" and "Electronic Parts Party", etc., and if in doubt, call the Police Hotline at 2 9285.

Senior Inspector Chan King Lok, Head of Crime Unit 1 of Wan Chai District, explains the tactics of the deceptionists. (Photo by Cai Zhengbang)