Police have neutralised a cross-border deception syndicate and arrested four men in suspected connection with more than 100 telephone deception cases over the past 14 months.

Swindlers have approached victims, claiming to be their relatives or friends. The four men, arrested for allegedly obtaining property by deception, will be detained overnight for further enquiries.

On January 7, a 48-year-old man deposited a total of $120,000 into five bank accounts a man provided after he called several times claiming to be a close friend and requesting money urgently.

The Organised Crime & Triad Bureau later arrested a 27-year-old suspect after he withdrew $20,000 from an automatic teller machine in Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday. Another 33-year-old man due to leave for the Mainland was stopped at Lok Ma Chau.

Two more suspects aged 36 and 48 were arrested in Ngau Tau Kok and Tsz Wan Shan today. They were found to have a number of mobile phone SIM cards and ATM cards belonging to other people in their possession.

Anyone who has recently fallen prey to similar deceptions should report this to the Police on 2527 7887 or 2860 2888.