Media Statements

Beware of Fraudulent Phone Calls Impersonating PCPD Officers

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) appealed to members of the public to be vigilant of fraudulent phone calls claiming to be made by the PCPD.
 
The PCPD has received a number of public enquiries today regarding phone calls received from individuals posing as PCPD officers. The fraudsters informed the recipients that they had contravened the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance and requested that they should attend the PCPD’s office to assist the PCPD with its investigations.
 
The PCPD clarifies that its staff have not made any of the calls in question. If members of the public receive any suspicious phone calls or SMS messages, they should remain vigilant and verify the identities of the callers or senders. They should not disclose personal data to others arbitrarily or click on suspicious links.
 
Anyone who receives suspected fraudulent phone calls or SMS messages may make enquiries with the PCPD (Hotline: 2827 2827 or email: communications@pcpd.org.hk). If there is any suspicion of fraud on personal data which involves criminal offence(s), they should immediately report the case to the Police. Citizens may also visit “Scameter” (https://cyberdefender.hk/en-us/scameter/) to check suspicious phone numbers, email addresses and websites, etc.