Top 10 Bizarre Emergency Calls

Got a problem with your avocados? Don't call 911 please!

We're a day away from 2025 and the year-end lists have appeared.

Probably the most bizarre one is from E-Comm -- the 911 line that provides emergency communications for British Columbia.

They are the front-line staff who get the calls and then help them get the assistance they need in crisis situations -- like police, fire and ambulance.

But not everyone who calls realises their "emergencies" are not considered life and death critical.

So here is the Top 10 list of calls that did not belong on 911:

10. Domesticated-bunny seen in a park.

9. Requesting help removing a wasp's nest.

8.  Phone left in an Uber.

7. Box of 38 avocados purchased were rotten.

6. Requesting technical support.

5. Complaining the power was out.

4. Seeking directions to a 24/7 Shoppers Drug Mart.

3. McDonald's wouldn't open its doors (at 5am).

2. Dry cleaners stained a shirt.

1. Neighbour wearing too much cologne.

E-Comm also gets a lot of calls from people who accidentally pocket dialled 911 on their smartphone or smartwatch.

"The biggest message [is] that if somebody is accidentally calling into 911, and they noticed, just to stay on the line with us. An emergency police call taker will make sure that they're safe, and then we can disconnect the call," said Laura Fiddler, an emergency call taker.

HK Police Warn of Whatsapp Scams

Scammers use Whatsapp to get people to send money

One would have thought by now people would be more wary about scams -- especially in Hong Kong -- but there's a new sucker every minute.

More than 130 people were victims of a scam in one week and lost a total of HK$1.7 million (US$217,300). 

The scam involved fraudsters hijacking Whatsapp accounts, getting into their contact lists and duping people by sending messages posing as friends or relatives who urgently needed money due to emergencies.

The victims were asked to send money as soon as possible, but when they spoke to the real account holders, they found out they were scammed because they had already sent over the money.

It all starts by swindlers sending phishing text messages that are linked to fake websites and manage to trick users into giving their account verification codes.

"If you receive a text message asking for money or a bank transfer request from friends or relatives, please remember to call and confirm first," Hong Kong police said.

According to police figures on the theft of online accounts, 3,434 were reported last year, compared to only 168 in 2022. Most of the cases involved Whatsapp accounts.

Financial losses in these scams totalled HK$87.6 million in 2023, compared to HK$73.8 million the year before.

However in terms of total scams, Hong Kong recorded a 42.6 percent increase to 39,824 cases last year, from 27,923 reports the year before. The total amount lost rose by a staggering 89 percent to HK$9.1 billion in 2023, compared to HK$4.8 billion the year before.

When you get a strange message, stop and think carefully. Better yet, call the friend or relative in question first to see if they really are in trouble.

Fraudsters need to earn less money and more jail time!