Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog is investigating reported data breaches affecting 1,600 customers of Hong Kong Airlines, YOHO, and Broadway Photo Supply.
A Hong Kong Airlines plane. File photo: GovHK. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Privacy (PCPD) said in a Monday press release that it had received a report on October 5 that personal data belonging to 790 customers of online electronics retailer YOHO had been breached. The customers received scam calls claiming refunds were available for damaged packages.
Customers who placed orders between September 29 and October 12 were affected, with names, phone numbers, delivery addresses, order numbers and product details leaked, the PCPD said.
The watchdog also said that Hong Kong Airlines had informed it on October 2 that 815 passengers with departing flights booked for between September 29 and October 22 had received suspected fraudulent calls.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data. File photo: Peter Lee/HKFP.The calls claimed their bookings had been cancelled and that compensation arrangements would be made. Names, phone numbers, flight dates and numbers, as well as routes were leaked.
The PCPD also noted a data breach incident at Broadway Photo Supply, better know as chain appliances store Broadway.
In all, 23 complaints and 20 inquiries were received over the breaches at the three companies as of Monday.
The PCPD urged Hongkongers to remain vigilant and to verify the identity and authenticity of callers through official channels. Customers should keep a record of communication and decline requests to transfer money, they added.
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