Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has warned of suspected fraudulent e-visa application websites that request personal data from unsuspecting applicants, with victims suffering losses of up to HK$1,700 (US$216).
A spokesman for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data said in a statement on Monday that the office had received 16 inquiries or complaints over the past three months about the provision of personal data and fee payments to suspected fraudulent sites posing as e-visa application portals.
“The [office] urges members of the public to remain vigilant and verify the authenticity of e-visa websites before applying and providing any personal data, so as to safeguard their privacy,” the spokesman said.
The complainants told the watchdog that they had mistakenly clicked on fraudulent sites from search engine results while applying for online visas, electronic travel authorisations or arrival cards.
They submitted personal data including names, gender, nationality, passport numbers and dates of birth, and paid the relevant fees before realising they may have been scammed.
Individual losses ranged from HK$300 to more than HK$1,700, according to the spokesman.