KR: Privacy Commissioner’s Office Urges the Public to Beware of Fraudsters Exploiting the Tai Po Fire Disaster

The KR: Privacy Commissioner’s Office has warned that fraudsters are exploiting the Tai Po fire disaster by impersonating volunteers and using a fraudulent “Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Victims Registration Form” to harvest victims’ personal data, including Chinese and English names, Hong Kong Identity Card numbers, telephone numbers, and banking details such as account numbers and credit card information.

Phishing SMS messages purporting to be from charitable organisations have also circulated, attempting to drive recipients to fraudulent fundraising websites to steal donations. According to The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD), the public should verify the authenticity of registration forms and never share bank account passwords or verification codes.

Victims can apply for assistance through the “one social worker per household” service, and members of the public should confirm senders’ identities through other contact methods if in doubt. The PCPD urges people to donate only via official bank accounts, and to report suspected fraud to the Police if there is any criminal activity involving personal data.