HONG KONG — A 71-year-old retired woman lost nearly HK$2.9 million after falling victim to an elaborate online romance scam, according to police.

The victim met “a 60-year-old man” on Facebook, who claimed he was an employee of a power company, according to a Facebook post of CyberDefender, a cybersecurity platform of the Hong Kong Police Force.

The suspect gradually won her over with daily messages that conveyed care and attention before the two later developed an online romantic relationship without ever meeting in person.

After gaining the woman’s trust, the man introduced her to an investment opportunity that he described as a waste recycling project in Singapore, promising guaranteed returns.

He then persuaded her to download a fraudulent investment app, where an “online customer service” representative guided her through account registration and deposits.

Although the platform showed her funds increasing steadily, when the woman tried to withdraw her money, the “customer service” refused on various pretexts.

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The scam intensified when the man claimed he had been arrested in Singapore on money laundering charges and urged the victim to transfer funds for his bail and legal fees. He also instructed her to visit a cryptocurrency exchange in person and deposit cash into a designated e-wallet.

As the fraud continued through repeated fabricated emergency appeals, the woman depleted her savings and borrowed additional money from friends and a finance company. Over 17 separate transactions, she transferred close to HK$2.9 million.

The scheme was uncovered only after debt collectors began contacting her. At the end of her rope, she asked her daughter for money, which ultimately led to the realization that she had been deceived.

According to the CyberDefender post, Hong Kong police received 18 reports of online romance scams last week, with total losses approaching HK$7.8 million.