A Hong Kong resident returning from Japan recently shared a screenshot on social media that contained his full name and electronic air ticket number. Subsequently, he discovered that an unauthorized individual had used his personal information to cancel the ticket.
The traveler shared the experience online and explained that he deleted the post within 30 minutes, but the ticket had already been canceled by then.
He indicated that he reported the incident to the Hong Kong police on Thursday and expressed gratitude to Hong Kong Airlines for permitting him to board under special arrangements.
Some netizens questioned how the ticket could be canceled so easily and suggested that the airline should improve its system.
However, not all internet users expressed sympathy, as they said uploading personal information online is a foolish act and that the original poster should have a lesson to learn.
Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung said while identifying the perpetrator can be challenging, the act of canceling someone else's ticket with malicious intent is illegal. The perpetrator is likely to have committed the crime of "access to computer with criminal or dishonest intent."
