This study analyzes how the Covid-19 crisis affected deception-related crime in Hong Kong by examining a period from February 2020 to June 2023. The researchers apply an Auto ARIMA time series approach to contrast crime rates before the pandemic with those during it, linking changes to the timing of policy measures such as lockdowns, quarantines, travel restrictions, and financial stimulus programs. The aim is to isolate the relationship between policy regimes and deception activity, situating the analysis within the broader pattern of crime trends observed during disruptive events. Empirical results indicate that deception offenses rose during the pandemic and consistently exceeded the forecasted levels suggested by the ARIMA model for those months. Yet, in contrast to some contemporaneous findings, the study identifies a rise in deception rates during intervals when policy restrictions were eased, with particular emphasis on the relaxation of lockdowns and travel controls. The interpretation integrates routine activity theory and crime displacement theory to account for these dynamics, emphasizing how changes in daily routines among potential offenders and victims may shape opportunities for deception. The analysis draws on prior work to explain the observed trajectories, including shifts toward greater use of phones and social media that persisted into the post-pandemic period. The authors highlight the industrialization of deception, notably the rise of organized scam operations such as “pig butchering” conducted within dedicated compounds across Southeast Asia. These networks are described as engaging in labor trafficking, a process that becomes more feasible when travel and movement restrictions are eased, facilitating expansion and scale. The discussion frames the findings through the lenses of routine adaptability and resilience, arguing that disruptions prompt adjustments in offender and victim practices that have broader implications for crime risk. The study positions these insights as a theoretical contribution, offering a framework for assessing how disruptive events influence crime patterns beyond Hong Kong and extending to the evaluation of routine shifts and response strategies in the face of future crises.