Individuals overseas reminded to remain vigilant against email scams

     The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Labour Department (LD) recently received enquiries from individuals overseas about emails from unknown sources offering employment in Hong Kong under an Employment for Professionals Assessment Scheme and requesting recipients to provide personal data and pay a fee. The Government reminds people who have received similar suspicious emails to remain vigilant against possible scams.

     The emails concerned also included an approval letter purportedly issued by the ImmD, and a confirmation letter and an application form allegedly issued and prepared by the LD.

     The Government today (October 21) clarified that it had never launched the aforesaid scheme. The ImmD and the LD had neither issued the letters concerned nor prepared the aforesaid application form. People who have received similar suspicious emails are urged not to provide any personal data or pay any fee. The relevant government department has commenced investigation on the incident, and the case has also been referred to the Police for follow-up action.

     Anyone receiving similar suspicious messages can contact the following government departments for enquiries:

Immigration Department:
Tel: (852) 2824 6111; email: enquiry@immd.gov.hk
Labour Department:
Tel: (852) 2150 6363; email: sld-hq@labour.gov.hk

     The Government also reminds members of the public to make reports to the Police at once when they receive an email suspected to be part of a scam.