Hong Kong and China Authorities Act to Protect Students from Rising Scam Threats

Universities introduce mandatory anti-fraud quizzes and training after mainland students lose millions to scams.

Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities are collaborating to combat a surge in scams targeting mainland students studying in Hong Kong.
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Polytechnic University (PolyU) have implemented mandatory anti-deception quizzes and training programs for students, with HKU linking quiz completion to access to campus facilities.
Police statistics reveal a significant rise in scam cases involving university students, with incidents increasing from an average of 24 per month to 91 in October 2024.
Fraud prevention measures include quizzes on common scam tactics, online training kits, and seminars, with over 4,000 students completing the learning package since September 2023.
Lawmaker Johnny Ng suggested extending the scam awareness quiz to be completed before student visas are issued, while universities continue exploring additional measures to protect vulnerable students.