Hong Kong WhatsApp hijacking scams surge 170% to nearly 2,000 cases in 2026

Hong Kong police report a 169.7% year-on-year surge in WhatsApp account hijacking scams, with 1,993 cases in the first seven months of 2026, already exceeding the 2025 full-year total. Losses reached HK$146.3 million, with one victim losing HK$12.2 million. The sharp increase signals a growing cybercrime trend targeting messaging platforms, likely exploiting user trust and weak account security.