The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) in Hong Kong yesterday (May 20) alerted the public to a new scam tactic targeting residents across various housing estates. Fraudsters pose as "neighbors" sending text messages, using excuses like water leakage or noise complaints to initiate contact, then urging victims to connect via instant messaging apps. Victims who verified with their estate management offices confirmed these were scams.
From March this year, the PCPD has received four inquiries and two complaints related to such cases, involving estates in Kowloon and the New Territories, urging residents to stay vigilant. In Ma On Shan's Kam Lung Court alone, over a dozen households received such messages, prompting the management office to post warnings. One resident who got a "water leakage" text said, "I almost fell for it, but after thinking calmly, it didn't add up. If there was a leak, the management office would contact me directly."
How does the scam work?
The PCPD explained that scammers impersonate neighbors, first texting complaints about leaks or noise to lure victims into responding or switching to messaging apps for "further discussion." Once a conversation starts, they may feign romantic interest or use other ploys to gain trust, aiming to extract money, personal data, or trick victims into clicking malicious links leading to phishing sites.
Reports indicate many residents in Ma On Shan's Saddle Ridge Garden and Kam Lung Court received such texts, with estate offices posting warnings. Investigations confirmed this as a new fraud tactic—engaging with scammers could lead to hacked phones, privacy breaches, or financial losses.
A journalist of Wen Wei Po visited Kam Lung Court, where several residents confirmed receiving "leakage complaint" texts. One showed a message: "They claimed my ceiling was leaking, said the management told them to contact me directly, and even had 'evidence' ready to discuss compensation." The resident recalled, "At first, I almost believed it, but then I realized the management would never share my number randomly." Suspicious, they checked with the office and confirmed it was a scam.
Another victim who engaged with the scammer revealed they were later emotionally blackmailed for money, with messages like, "We've been neighbors so long, please help me out." But once money was mentioned, alarm bells rang.
An estate management staffer clarified, "For genuine disputes, we'd facilitate a neutral platform for discussion, never handing out personal contacts without consent."
Uncover scam after verifying with management
Sha Tin District Council Member Anna Law said multiple estates recently reported suspicious messages. "Since the texts mentioned 'the management asked me to negotiate,' residents grew wary and checked with the office, exposing the scam."
She noted about a dozen cases in Saddle Ridge Garden and three to four in Kam Lung Court, but thanks to high alertness, no one was duped. Police confirmed four to five similar reports in Ma On Shan, with such scams occurring citywide, prompting a dedicated task force.
Six Anti-Scam Tips
- Pause and think before sharing personal data—verify the collector's purpose.
- Avoid clicking suspicious links or scanning QR codes from untrusted sources.
- Check with estate management to confirm the sender's identity for any unusual texts/calls.
- Monitor online banking for unusual login activity.
- Change passwords regularly, enable two-factor authentication, and never share login details.
- Stay updated on scam alerts from the PCPD, police, or relevant authorities.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalists: Siu, Yim; English Editor: Darius)
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