Hong Kong police reported 115 residents lost HKD $22 million to a click farming scam in a single week. The con artists used a "fake orders" scheme where victims clicked buttons in an app to simulate online sales. Swindlers promised commissions and repayment of funds used for these fabricated purchases.

The ruse involved victims using their own money to create fake orders with online retailers. The apps presented these actions as boosting product popularity and sales. Scammers then disappeared with the victims' funds after persuading them to deposit more money or register on fraudulent websites.

These "click a button" Ponzi operations commonly use cryptocurrency for transactions. Occasionally, they establish fake accounts with payment processors to accept local currencies, broadening their reach. Organized crime syndicates from China are believed to be behind these scams, often operating from bases in Southeast Asian countries.

In September 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Cambodian politician Ly Yong Phat. The Treasury alleged he owned companies that sheltered Chinese human trafficking scam operations in Cambodia. This action points to the transnational nature of these criminal enterprises.

Investigators believe the same group of Chinese scammers is responsible for the widespread "click a button" app Ponzi schemes, regardless of their operational location. Similar schemes, such as JD Global, Aluzoo, and FluxCart, have been documented previously, following the same pattern of simulated online shopping for fabricated returns.