Data breach at Hong Kong Airlines, YOHO, and Broadway affects 1,600 customers

Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog is investigating reported data breaches affecting 1,600 customers of Hong Kong Airlines, YOHO, and Broadway Photo Supply.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Privacy (PCPD) said in a Monday press release that it had received a report on October 5 that personal data belonging to 790 customers of online electronics retailer YOHO had been breached. The customers received scam calls claiming refunds were available for damaged packages.

Customers who placed orders between September 29 and October 12 were affected, with names, phone numbers, delivery addresses, order numbers and product details leaked, the PCPD said.

The watchdog also said that Hong Kong Airlines had informed it on October 2 that 815 passengers with departing flights booked for between September 29 and October 22 had received suspected fraudulent calls.

The calls claimed their bookings had been cancelled and that compensation arrangements would be made. Names, phone numbers, flight dates and numbers, as well as routes were leaked.

The PCPD also noted a data breach incident at Broadway Photo Supply, better know as chain appliances store Broadway.

In all, 23 complaints and 20 inquiries were received over the breaches at the three companies as of Monday.

The PCPD urged Hongkongers to remain vigilant and to verify the identity and authenticity of callers through official channels. Customers should keep a record of communication and decline requests to transfer money, they added.

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Tom founded Hong Kong Free Press in 2015 as the city's first crowdfunded newspaper. He has a BA in Communications and New Media from Leeds University and an MA in Journalism from the University of Hong Kong. He previously founded an NGO advocating for domestic worker rights, and has contributed to the BBC, Deutsche Welle, Al-Jazeera and others.

Tom leads HKFP – raising funds, managing the team and navigating risk – whilst regularly speaking on press freedom, ethics and media funding at industry events, schools and conferences around the world.