A Talk on Persuasion and Scam Tactics by a Police Clinical Psychologist

Date

05 February 2025

Location

LT-15, YEUNG

Organiser

Office of the Provost and Deputy President (Student Life)

Category

Description

To raise the alertness of students and staff regarding the latest persuasion and scam tactics used by scammers, a talk titled “The Psychology of Persuasion and Scam Techniques” was organised on 5 February 2025 by the Office of the Provost and Deputy President (Student Life). Mr. Michael FUNG, a Police Clinical Psychologist of the Hong Kong Police Force was invited to speak on the topic, and the talk was well received by about 50 participants.

During the session, Mr. FUNG shared that scam and deception have a long history and have evolved into a sophisticated worldwide industry. From the story of “Millennium Bug” to the rise of romance and investment scams in recent years, he provided numerous examples that illustrate the evolving tactics scammers use in persuading, enticing and manipulating their targets. He stressed the importance of remaining vigilant and being sceptical at all times, as deceivers are now overwhelmingly pervasive.

City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is dedicated to equipping students and staff with up-to-date anti-scam knowledge and information to prevent deception. Joining the event in support of this mission were Professor Dannii YEUNG, Associate Provost (Student Life); Professor Henry CHUNG, Dean of Students; and Dr. Larry NG, Associate Director of Student Development Services (Counselling).