How to Report Cybercrime in Hong Kong (and Try to Recover Your Money)
Scammed or hacked in Hong Kong? Call the Anti-Scam Helpline 18222 immediately so police can try to freeze the funds, report the crime through the Police e-Report Centre or your nearest station, and check suspicious accounts and links on Scameter. A step-by-step guide.
Quick answer: If you have lost money to a scam in Hong Kong, act on the money first. Call the Anti-Scam Helpline 18222 (run by the Police Anti-Deception Coordination Centre) right away and tell your bank, so police can try to intercept the funds before they are withdrawn. Then report the crime through the Police e-Report Centre or at your nearest police station. If a crime is happening now or anyone is in danger, call 999. Speed is the single biggest factor in getting money back.
What to do in 3 steps
- Act on the money immediately. The moment you realise you have been scammed, call the Anti-Scam Helpline 18222 and contact your bank. The Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC) works directly with banks to try to intercept and hold a transfer before the recipient withdraws it. This only works while the money is still in the receiving account, so call within minutes, not hours. Have the recipient account number, the amount, and the time of transfer ready.
- Report the crime. File a report through the Hong Kong Police Force e-Report Centre online, or go in person to your nearest police station and ask to report a fraud or technology crime. If the offence is still happening, or anyone is at risk, call 999 instead. For hacking, account takeovers and other technical incidents, the report is routed to the Police Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB).
- Preserve evidence and follow up. Do not delete anything. Keep transfer receipts and transaction references, screenshots of the chats, profiles, emails and websites involved, the scammer's phone numbers and account details, and the dates, times and amounts. Record your police report reference number and the contact for the officer handling the case, and keep checking in.
Where to report
- Anti-Scam Helpline 18222 (ADCC): the round-the-clock line for anyone who has been scammed or suspects a scam. ADCC officers advise on next steps and coordinate fund-interception with banks.
- Police e-Report Centre: the Hong Kong Police Force online channel for non-emergency reports of fraud and other crime. Use this when there is no immediate danger.
- Nearest police station / 999: report in person at any station, or call 999 when a crime is in progress or there is a risk to safety.
- Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB): the Police unit that handles hacking, account takeovers, ransomware and other technical offences, which your report is referred to.
Check before you pay or click
Hong Kong Police run a free verification tool called Scameter, available on the CyberDefender website and as the mobile app Scameter+. Before you transfer money, take a job or investment offer, or click a payment link, paste the bank account number, phone number, email or website into Scameter to see whether it has already been reported as linked to fraud. It takes seconds and is the easiest way to avoid becoming a victim in the first place.
What to have ready
- The transfer receipt and transaction reference, or the bank account, FPS, or wallet number the money went to
- Screenshots of the chats, calls, emails, profiles or websites involved
- The dates, times and amounts of every transaction
- Any names, links, or social media handles the scammer used
- Your own identification and the phone number tied to the affected account
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my money back if I was scammed in Hong Kong? Sometimes, but only if you act fast. Calling 18222 and your bank within minutes gives police the chance to ask the receiving bank to hold the funds before they are withdrawn. Once a syndicate has cashed out, recovery is very difficult, but you should still report so the account can be flagged.
What is the difference between 18222 and 999? Dial 999 for emergencies, when a crime is in progress or someone is in danger. Dial 18222, the Anti-Scam Helpline, for scam advice, to check a suspicious case, and to trigger fund-interception after a fraud. For a non-urgent formal report, use the Police e-Report Centre or a police station.
Someone asked to use my bank account for a fee. Is that safe? No. Letting someone route money through your account makes you a "dummy" or mule account holder, which is a criminal offence in Hong Kong and a fast route to having your own accounts frozen. Police arrest account holders alongside syndicate organisers.
If you or someone you know has been targeted, you are not alone, and acting quickly still matters. See our country-by-country cybercrime help hub for step-by-step reporting and recovery guides, including other regions.