Dating App Fraudsters In 'birthday Present' Scam

People looking for love online are being warned that con artists have come up with a new way to get money out of people – simply by pretending it's their birthday.

The Democratic Party said on Monday that it has received around 10 complaints from women who each spent around HK$3,000 on presents for people they had gone on a first date with.

A district councillor with the party, Ramon Yuen, said it seems like an organised scam because it is the same two men going on all the dates.

"They lie about their birthdays, they have so many birthdays. It's a false claim obviously."

Yuen said other people also seemed to be involved in the fraud, taking the presents bought, such as smartphones and clothes, back to the shops for a refund.

The councillor said he had reported the matter to the police.