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What's New - Reaching Out to the Community – Privacy Commissioner Interviewed by the Media to Remind the Public Beware of Scams
Date: 20 January 2025
Reaching Out to the Community – Privacy Commissioner Interviewed by the Media to Remind the Public Beware of Scams
The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (Privacy Commissioner), Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, was interviewed by RTHK Radio 1’s “HK2000” on 17 January to elaborate on the enquiries relating to suspected personal data frauds received by her Office (PCPD). The Privacy Commissioner reminded members of the public to beware of scams.
During the interview, the Privacy Commissioner said that the PCPD received 1,158 enquiries relating to suspected personal data frauds in 2024, which represented an increase of 46% when compared to 793 similar enquiries in 2023. This reflects that with the proactive publicity efforts by the PCPD and other organisations, the public awareness of fraud prevention has increased. Most of the enquiries received by the PCPD were related to telephone scams, in which fraudsters pretended to be law enforcement agencies, finance companies or customer service agents and swindled the victims out of personal data and/or money.
The Privacy Commissioner also noted that there were fraudulent recruitment advertisements on social media platforms advertising lucrative positions with high salaries to lure members of the public to apply. She reminded the public to be cautious of such recruitment advertisements and not to provide their personal data arbitrarily, so as to avoid falling into the trap of fraudsters and being deceived into carrying out fraudulent work outside Hong Kong.
During the interview, the Privacy Commissioner said that the PCPD received 1,158 enquiries relating to suspected personal data frauds in 2024, which represented an increase of 46% when compared to 793 similar enquiries in 2023. This reflects that with the proactive publicity efforts by the PCPD and other organisations, the public awareness of fraud prevention has increased. Most of the enquiries received by the PCPD were related to telephone scams, in which fraudsters pretended to be law enforcement agencies, finance companies or customer service agents and swindled the victims out of personal data and/or money.
The Privacy Commissioner also noted that there were fraudulent recruitment advertisements on social media platforms advertising lucrative positions with high salaries to lure members of the public to apply. She reminded the public to be cautious of such recruitment advertisements and not to provide their personal data arbitrarily, so as to avoid falling into the trap of fraudsters and being deceived into carrying out fraudulent work outside Hong Kong.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (left), was interviewed by RTHK Radio 1’s “HK2000”.