Just days after the deadly No. 5 alarm fire that claimed at least 146 lives at Wang Fuk Court, affected residents are being cautioned about scammers posing as volunteers in a bid to obtain personal information and emergency funds.
One of the targets, Ho, reported several suspicious phone calls and encounters at the Community Center.
Ho recounted an incident where three men speaking Cantonese approached him, offering assistance with housing registration at the Tung Cheong Street Community Hall.
They attempted to access his phone number and personal details under the pretense of conducting income assessments, with one individual even trying to check his phone for information.
"They had no vests, no credentials, nothing but only handwritten notes on their arms,” Ho said.
When Ho questioned their lack of identification, one suspect awkwardly responded, "You are very alert," before leaving the scene.
However, Ho is not the sole victim, as multiple residents have reported similar encounters on social media, alerting others that scammers are specifically targeting elderly victims by pretending to offer assistance.
In one case, a hospitalized victim who was still recovering from smoke inhalation received a suspicious call requesting personal information.
Recognizing the red flags, the hospital staff intervened and terminated the call.
In a social media post on Sunday (Nov 30), police confirmed the fraudulent activities, highlighting that scammers are using fake "Wang Fuk Court Victim Registration Forms" to collect personal data, financial information, and even verification codes.
Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant against such tactics and to refrain from disclosing any personal information to strangers, including names, ID numbers, bank account details, or passwords.
