Police warns of rise in scams using WhatsApp

 

Police say call, do not just send money through WhatsApp

Hong Kong Police has issued a warning on its CyberDefender Facebook page over the rise in the number of people being defrauded by scammers after hijacking their friend’s or relative’s WhatsApp account.

In the post last Monday, Mar 18, the police said it received 131 WhatsApp account “robberies” in the previous week alone, which resulted in losses amounting to $1.7 million.

“In most cases, the victims received WhatsApp messages from scammers posing as their relatives or friends, who claimed there was an urgent need for money due to emergencies,” the police said.

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“The victims were asked to transfer the money as soon as possible.”

It was only after they remembered to call the account holder after sending money that they learned they had been scammed.

Police figures show a significant rise in the theft of online accounts, with 3,434 reports last year compared with 168 cases the previous year. Most of the cases involved WhatsApp accounts.

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Monetary losses jumped to $87.6 million in 2023 from $73.8 million the year before, for a nearly 16% increase.

To prevent falling prey to such scams, the police is urging everyone who receives such requests for a money transfer to call the account holder first to verify the story.

Those who use WhatsApp should also make sure their accounts are not hacked by scammers by doing the following:

·     Do not click  suspicious links to avoid falling into the phishing trap, which allows scammers to use your personal data in taking control of your account

·         Never share your personal QR code with scammers who pose as customer service representatives

·         Never press “confirm if you receive a login request, as the WhatsApp system can generate a transfer code which will allow a scammer to empty your bank account

·         If using WhatsApp on the web, use its official web address.

·         Avoid using WhatsApp on public computers

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In addition, always use two-factor authentication and log out from all unknown connected devices.

Sample of a phishing attempt through WhatApp. 

WhatsApp itself gives these warnings to guard against scams:

1.      Pause and think. Look out for suspicious behavior: Are they using an unknown number? Are they rushing you? Are they being threatening or asking you to trust them? Are they asking you to transfer money or share a password, pin, or personal information?

2.      Stop the conversation: Hang up a call or don’t reply to messages. Do not do what the person is asking of you, like transferring money.

3.      Block and report to WhatsApp

4.      Update your privacy and security settings. Control who sees your information and enable two-step verification to better secure your account.

If your account gets hacked, find out how you can recover it from the official WhatsApp website: https://faq.whatsapp.com/1131652977717250/?helpref=uf_share

To reduce the risk of fraud, go to the Family Guard website: https://CyberDefender.hk

Or, use the mobile app, "Fam Prevention App" to help reduce the risk of fraud.

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Legislators call for review of $2 fare concession

Legislators cite the budget deficit in calling for curbs in the $2 scheme for the elderly and disabled

Legislators are calling for a rethink of the $2 fare concession granted to commuters aged 60 and above, as well as those with disability, in light of the government's expected budget shortfall of more than $100 billion for the current fiscal year.

The scheme, which has been in place since 2012 and expanded in 2022 to include those between 60-65 years old, allows commuters to pay just HK$2 on most public transportation, including cross-harbour buses and the MTR, regardless of their destination or residency status.

Leading the campaign to modify the scheme is Legislative Council member Chan Siu-hung, who is calling for a monthly cap of $1,000 on the concession granted to every qualified user. Once a commuter’s expenses for the month reached this limit, the subsidy will no longer apply.

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Other proposals suggested to the government include giving smaller discounts, or limiting the number of trips eligible under the concession.

In  a radio interview today, Chan also said that the use of public funds should be “need-based” and not “on demand,” meaning the concession should only be given to indigents.

But he warned that any changes to the program should be communicated swiftly by the government to prevent public discontent or distress.

Another Legco member who spoke on the show, Peter Douglas Koon, proposed raising the concession fare from $2 to $4. 

This is to reflect the 30% surge in transport fares since the scheme was introduced, and in anticipation of the projected one-third increase in the elderly population.

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In a Legco question-and-answer session yesterday, Labour and Welfare Secretary Chris Sun said the government would take into account the effectiveness of different options in containing the growth of expenditure, including the proposed curb to the fare subsidy.

This includes reviewing the mode of operation of the $2 scheme, with a view to maintaining its financial sustainability. 

However, he emphasized that the government has no intention to cancel the scheme, or change the existing beneficiary groups.

Sun (wth glasses) says doing away with the $2 scheme is out of the question

In response to Chan’s questions, the secretary said the government spent about $4.05 billion in subsidy to the $2 scheme for 2023-2024.  For the next fiscal year, this is expected to increase to about $6.01 billion.

In his questions, Chan noted that since the eligible age was lowered to 60 years old starting Feb 27, 2022, the number of beneficiaries has increased substantially, “thus imposing a heavy burden on public finance.”

He also noted that beneficiaries have been “taking long-haul routes for short journeys” which resulted in an increase in the amount that in the government subsidy, apart from abuses committed by non-eligible commuters.

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Chan suggested a monthly limit to the concession – anywhere from $500 to $1,500 – to be calculated based on the original fare.

He also suggested stepping up the campaign to inform the elderly that taking long-haul routes for short journeys will create a financial burden on the government, as the subsidy paid to the transport operator is substantially bigger.

In response, Sun said the government has been trying to make the beneficiaries understand all along how to make proper use of the $2 scheme, including using the two-way section fares for short-haul routes to lessen the subsidy.

Through the Transport Department, it has also urged public transport operators to step up ticket and passenger identity inspection to prevent abuses.

As a result, about 2,360 cases of suspected abuse of the $2 scheme were detected among bus and ferry passengers from June 2023 until end of February this year. 

Two of the cases were referred to police for follow-up, resulting in a $14,000 fine being imposed on an offender, who was also required to pay $2,000 in underpaid fares. The other one is still being investigated.

During the same period, the MTR Corporation imposed surcharges on around 4,260 ineligible persons for abusing the scheme.

In the five years before this campaign, only a total of 1,419 suspected abuse cases were reported.

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Asylum seeker jailed for carrying machete in public place

 

The Filipino asylum seeker was sentenced in Tuen Mun Court

A Filipino asylum seeker was jailed for two months after he admitted carrying a machete in a public place and damaging a door with it.

Cristopher Farol, 44 years old, was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and two weeks’ imprisonment for criminal damage.

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In a hearing today at Tuen Mun Court, Magistrate Raymond Wong also ordered that the two penalties run at the same time, resulting in a total sentence of two months.

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The first charge, violation of the Public Order Ordinance, arose on Dec. 22 last year when police found the large knife in his possession, “without lawful authority and reasonable excuse”on Hin Fat Lane in Tuen Mun.

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On the same occasion, he also damaged the wooden door of a house belonging to Eusebio Serios Jr. using the machete, “without lawful excuse.” No other incident was alleged.

For this, he was charged with violation of the Crimes Ordinance.

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HK migrant workers say ‘no’ to Cha-Cha

 

Protesters hold banners opposing Cha-Cha outside the Consulate

A group of migrant workers staged a picket outside the Philippine Consulate offices in Admiralty yesterday, Mar 19, to protest against moves by legislators to call for a Constitutional Convention to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

The protest was a follow-up to a lightning rally held Sunday on Chater Road in Central by the militant groups to denounce the so-called “Cha-Cha” or charter change, which lawmakers say is only aimed at allowing foreign investors full ownership of public utilities, schools and advertising.

Members of the House of Representatives have already approved the measure on second reading, and have vowed to pass the same on its third and final reading this week, ahead of the March 22 Lenten break of Congress.

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But the charter change should also be approved by the Senate and the President before it becomes law.

Critics, including militant OFW groups United Filipinos – Migrante Hong Kong maintain that the move to amend the Constitution would also include ultimately the removal of the six-year, no-reelection term for the sitting president, Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

They said any moves to amend the charter should come from the Filipino people themselves.

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“If the Filipino people really want to dance the ChaCha, then they would campaign for it, isn’t it? But since they see no benefit in it for them, they aren’t campaigning (for) it,” said Unifil-Migrante in its statement.

The group said Filipinos know that the move to change the Constitution is more for the benefit of President Marcos and his imperialist partners in the United States than the promised economic reform for the country.

Lightning rally on Chater Road last Sunday

Proponents of the House Bill claim that if it is passed, foreign direct investments would double and two million jobs would be created. They cite figures showing that the Philippines has lagged behind its ASEAN neighbors in foreign investment inflows from 2010 to 2020.

But opponents told a Senate hearing that what the country needs is reform in the sectors affected and not an easing of foreign ownership.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, who was one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, said “there are no valid scenarios and compelling reasons” to amend the charter.

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Under Philippine law, the Constitution may be amended either through a constitutional convention composed of delegated, with Congress sitting as a constituent assembly, or a through a people’s initiative.

At least 12% of all voters nationwide and 3% of voters in each legislative district, must approve the move to change the charter, to constitute a valid people’s initiative.

 

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Softball: Fate beats Sieger after trying 11 years

 

Team members celebrate their victory 

By Emz Frial

Fate, the all-Filipina softball team in the the 2023-24 Hong Kong Open League of the Hong Kong China Softball Association , finally achieved its 11-year quest to beat local leading team Sieger by scoring a 10-5 victory in the Women’s A Division last March 17 at Tin Kwong field in Kowloon.

Made up of 16 domestic helpers who could practice only on their Sundays off, Fate is now co-leaders with Sieger in the 10-team premier league for women, with three wins and one loss.

"It was unexpected," team captain Don Gaborno said during a short meeting after the game.

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Their manager, Pamela Law, said: “Everyone can't believe that they won the game. But, finally they made it.”

Pamela manages the team to continue the legacy of her father, Law Wai-ho, who helped Gaborno organize the team in December 2012 and provided for its needs, such as uniforms, balls, bats and other equipment until he died in his sleep at 92 years old on June 9, 2022.

David Wong, Fate’s coach, attributed the victory to the members working closely as a team.

Eunice Locop scores

The game started at 12:30pm with Fate as an away team, racking up a 2-0 lead in the first inning with Gaborno and Ana Chelo Garbo running home. But Hung Yik Shan and Lui Chee Ar equalized with their own runs on Sieger’s turn.

Fate’s newest member, Lanilyn Aligno, pitched during the game to replace Gaborno, who shifted to short stop, and teamed up with catcher Eunice Locop to silence the locals in the second inning after Ma. Eva Mendez, Rena Albor and Locop scored, sending their team ahead, 5-2.

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Aligno was playing with a handicap of being unable to practice with the team during Sundays at Shek Kip Mie grounds due to conflict of days off. She made up for it on weekdays when she could get off work, with Gaborno and other teammates with more flexible schedules helping her catch up.

In the third inning, Fate collected one run by Aligno while Sieger managed to add two by Lui Chee Ar and Wong Hiu Tung, bringing the score to 6-4, still in favor of Fate.

In the fourth inning, Locop, Rosella Joy Coloma and Gaborno crossed the home plate while Aligno allowed only one local Chinese, Mui Wing Ki, to score as the Filipinas piled up their lead at 9-5.

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Both teams were scoreless in the fifth.

Garbo’s final home run sealed the game in the last inning, 10-5, as the locals remained scoreless in their last turn at the bat. 

Fate will return to the field on April 29, against SCAA ST.

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3 charged with fighting in public bound over

 

Scene of the fight

An altercation that began over spilled water at a Sai Kung restaurant and escalated into a fight that led to one of them being taken to hospital, ended today at the Kwun Tong Court with all three protagonists – two Filipinas and one local -- agreeing to be bound over.

Acting Principal Magistrate Winnie Lau explained to the three – M.S., 47 years old and an estate agent; M.E., 37 years old and a domestic helper; and J.C., 45 and a restaurant manager – that with the bind-over, this case will not leave a stain on their clear records as long as they comply with conditions she would set.

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Magistrate Lau bound them to a promise not to commit any offense that involves violence for 15 months, or else they will be fined $1,500 and meted the punishment appropriate for the new offense.

She also charged them $300 each as court costs, to be taken from their bail, which was also $300.

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The prosecution withdrew the charge of fighting in a public place, a violation of Section 25 of the Public Order Ordinance, against the three.

According to a police report read during the hearing, the fight happened on Nov. 17 last year at the outdoor dining area of the Feather and Bone restaurant on Wan King Path in Sai Kung.

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The three were dining peacefully when J.C., who was with M.E., spilled some water as he passed by M.S.

M.S. reacted by throwing a water bottle at M.E.

In turn, M.E. threw a plastic chair at M.S., who retaliated by hitting her with her handbag.

M.E. later complained of having suffered abrasions, and asked to be taken to a hospital.

 

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Filipina DH hangs self over debt, police say

 

The Filipina hanged herself with a scarf inside the toilet of her employer's flat in Allway Gardens

A 30-year-old Filipina domestic helper appears to have taken her own life due to money problems, according to a police report.

The Filipina reportedly hanged herself with a scarf from the ceiling of the washroom in her employer’s flat in Block L of Allway Gardens, Tsuen Wan at about 11am yesterday, Mar 18.

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Officers who responded to the employer’s call found the Filipina unconscious. They rushed her to Yan Chai Hospital where she was declared dead.

No suicide note was found.

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However, police who investigated the incident managed to speak with a sister of the deceased who works with another employer in the same building, and she informed them that he victim had money problems.

A police spokeswoman said an investigation is being carried out, and the exact cause of death will be known after an autopsy.

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Officers of the Migrant Workers Office said they have been in touch with the victim’s family, and they reportedly asked them not to disclose any information about the case. 

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