A Hong Kong man has been defrauded of HK$10 million after scammers used artificial intelligence to mimic his father’s voice on WhatsApp, highlighting the rising threat of AI-enabled impersonation fraud in the region.
A Hong Kong man has lost HK$10 million, or about $1.27 million, after scammers used artificial intelligence to imitate his father’s voice on WhatsApp, according to TechRadar’s report citing local police cybercrime guidance and Hong Kong media coverage. The case underlines how quickly generative AI is making familiar-sounding fraud far more convincing, particularly when criminals exploit family relationships and the pressure of an “urgent” request for money.
According to the Hong Kong police Cyberdefender platform, the victim received a voice note asking for a transfer of HK$1 million. The request sounded credible because the speech pattern and tone closely matched his father’s. The scam did not end there: the victim was allegedly targeted repeatedly until his savings had been drained. Police warned the public not to trust voice messages at face value, and advised people to call back directly if a request seems unusual.
The rise in this kind of impersonation fraud comes amid a broader wave of WhatsApp scams in Hong Kong. The South China Morning Post has reported several recent cases, including an elderly man who lost HK$11.4 million after being drawn into a bogus investment platform through a WhatsApp message, and police warnings after more than 130 people were duped in a single week. In another case reported by The Standard, a scam involving a hijacked WhatsApp account was stopped when a bank employee suggested verifying the request with a direct phone call.
Experts say one of the most effective defences is also one of the simplest: a secret codeword agreed in advance with close family or trusted contacts. The BBC has reported that such a password can expose a deepfake or impersonator because, while criminals may copy a voice, they cannot know private information shared only within the group. Safety specialists also advise people to slow down when a message creates panic, since urgency is often used to stop victims from thinking clearly.
Hong Kong police have also urged users to enable two-factor authentication and check which devices are linked to their accounts, removing anything suspicious immediately. Anti-scam campaigners say three warning signs should raise alarm: pressure to act quickly, demands for hard-to-trace payments such as cash, cryptocurrency or gift cards, and efforts to control who can be contacted during the conversation. The message from investigators and experts is the same: if a request feels rushed or out of character, pause, verify and use the codeword.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
