‘Protect your personal data when joining lucky draws’

The privacy watchdog on Saturday alerted the public to protect their personal information when taking part in lucky draws organised for people who have received Covid-19 vaccinations.

Many private companies have heeded calls from the government and offered incentives, such as an apartment, Mercedes Benz cars and gold to encourage people to get vaccinated.

The Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Ada Chung, warned that some criminals might take the opportunity and set up fake lucky draw websites to steal people’s personal information.

She reminded citizens to check the correct websites or methods for registration, pay attention to the personal information collection statements and be cautious of phishing websites.

“I would like to remind members of the public to stay vigilant when they receive any calls, text messages or emails which are suspicious or from unknown sources,” she said.

“They should avoid disclosing their personal data arbitrarily, including Hong Kong identity card numbers and bank account numbers, and avoid clicking links or opening attachments in emails or text messages at will.”

She also urged companies not to collect excessive personal data and handle the collected data prudently when they organise lucky draws.