Privacy watchdog logs 558 scam data inquiries
Thestandard · 1 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data said it received 558 inquiries about suspected personal data breaches in the first half of 2026, up 16 percent from 481 in the same period last year. Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling disclosed the figures while speaking at a public anti-scam seminar focused on messaging apps and social media safety
Key Points
- Chung said the watchdog logged 1,163 inquiries on suspected personal data harvesting in 2025, while the first-half 2026 total rose to 558 from 481 a year earlier
- At the seminar, she cited recent credit card fraud involving unauthorized iPhone purchases, with police receiving about 1,200 reports and losses reaching HK$25 million
- In one reported case, a victim’s card was charged fraudulently more than 10 times, adding up to HK$110,000, according to Chung
- Chung said some merchant websites lacked safeguards such as one-time passcodes or mobile app authorization, allowing purchases using only card numbers and CVV codes
- The office also received 28 inquiries or complaints about fake electronic visa websites from June to August, with victims submitting passport and identity details and losing hundreds to several thousand dollars
Why It Matters
The figures point to continued exposure of Hong Kong residents’ personal and payment data across online shopping, social media and messaging platforms, even when scams begin outside traditional banking channels. Chung’s advice to freeze or disable cards immediately after abnormal transactions suggests faster consumer response may be critical while merchants and platforms tighten transaction security