What's New
What's New - Reaching Out to the Community － Privacy Commissioner Interviewed by Media to Urge Caution against Fraudulent E-Visa Websites
Date: 6 August 2026
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, was interviewed by RTHK Radio 1’s “HK2000”.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (left), was interviewed by Now News’ “News Magazine”.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling shared fraud prevention tips and highlighted the PCPD’s ongoing efforts to combat fraud.
Reaching Out to the Community － Privacy Commissioner Interviewed by Media to Urge Caution against Fraudulent E-Visa Websites
The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (Privacy Commissioner), Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, was interviewed by CRHK Radio 1’s “On a Clear Day” on 5 August, and RTHK Radio 1’s “HK2000” and Now News’ “News Magazine” on 6 August to explain the enquiries and complaints cases received by her Office (PCPD) relating to suspected fraudulent electronic visa (e-visa) websites. She also shared fraud prevention tips and highlighted the PCPD’s ongoing efforts to combat fraud.
During the interview, the Privacy Commissioner noted a recent upward trend in the number of enquiries and complaints relating to suspected fraudulent e-visa websites, involving e-visa or entry permission applications for countries including the United States, Thailand and the United Kingdom. In the cases, victims typically realised that they had been deceived after suspected fake e-visa websites became unresponsive upon submission of their personal data and application fees. She also observed that scammers had been leveraging artificial intelligence technology to create fraudulent websites, making it more difficult to distinguish genuine websites from fraudulent ones.
The Privacy Commissioner pointed out that scammers may exploit advertising functions on search platforms to place fraudulent websites at the top of search results. She advised members of the public who wish to apply for e-visas to carefully check the full website address and not to rely solely on search engine results. Instead, they should access e-visa application platforms through links provided on the websites of Consulates-General or representative offices of the relevant countries or regions in Hong Kong. Information on Consulates-General is available on the website of the Protocol Division of the Government Secretariat.
In addition, the Privacy Commissioner said that to raise the awareness of university students on fraud prevention, the PCPD has, since last year, conducted 20 anti-scam talks for university students, attracting more than 9,500 attendance. The PCPD also produced an anti-fraud video in Cantonese, Putonghua and English, which has been disseminated to tertiary institutions for on-campus screening.
Click here to listen to the interview by RTHK Radio 1’s “HK2000” (Chinese only).
Click here to view the first part of the interview by Now News’ “News Magazine” (Chinese only).
Click here to view the second part of the interview by Now News’ “News Magazine” (Chinese only).
During the interview, the Privacy Commissioner noted a recent upward trend in the number of enquiries and complaints relating to suspected fraudulent e-visa websites, involving e-visa or entry permission applications for countries including the United States, Thailand and the United Kingdom. In the cases, victims typically realised that they had been deceived after suspected fake e-visa websites became unresponsive upon submission of their personal data and application fees. She also observed that scammers had been leveraging artificial intelligence technology to create fraudulent websites, making it more difficult to distinguish genuine websites from fraudulent ones.
The Privacy Commissioner pointed out that scammers may exploit advertising functions on search platforms to place fraudulent websites at the top of search results. She advised members of the public who wish to apply for e-visas to carefully check the full website address and not to rely solely on search engine results. Instead, they should access e-visa application platforms through links provided on the websites of Consulates-General or representative offices of the relevant countries or regions in Hong Kong. Information on Consulates-General is available on the website of the Protocol Division of the Government Secretariat.
In addition, the Privacy Commissioner said that to raise the awareness of university students on fraud prevention, the PCPD has, since last year, conducted 20 anti-scam talks for university students, attracting more than 9,500 attendance. The PCPD also produced an anti-fraud video in Cantonese, Putonghua and English, which has been disseminated to tertiary institutions for on-campus screening.
Click here to listen to the interview by RTHK Radio 1’s “HK2000” (Chinese only).
Click here to view the first part of the interview by Now News’ “News Magazine” (Chinese only).
Click here to view the second part of the interview by Now News’ “News Magazine” (Chinese only).
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling, was interviewed by RTHK Radio 1’s “HK2000”.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling (left), was interviewed by Now News’ “News Magazine”.
The Privacy Commissioner, Ms Ada CHUNG Lai-ling shared fraud prevention tips and highlighted the PCPD’s ongoing efforts to combat fraud.