Fake Toyota airbag recall notices circulating on WhatsApp, Hongkongers warned

Hong Kong residents have been warned about fake vehicle airbag safety recall messages circulating widely on WhatsApp, with the Chinese-language notices bearing the Transport Department’s name.

A department spokesman said on Saturday that the case had been referred to police for follow-up action.

It urged residents not to provide any personal information in response to unofficial messages purportedly from the government.

“At present, the department only sets out safety recall information provided by authorised dealers of registered vehicle manufacturers on its website,” the spokesman said.

He said the department did not issue letters to tell individual vehicle owners about safety recalls, urging residents to contact the relevant authorised agents or dealers directly for inquiries.

The fraudulent letter, seen by the South China Morning Post, is written in Chinese and bears a faint watermark featuring the emblem of the State Administration for Market Regulation in the background.

A bilingual red letterhead reads: “Transport Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, with the city’s flag displayed on the left. A serial number is printed below the header.

Addressed to Toyota vehicle owners, the letter said the department had reported the matter to the State Administration for Market Registration for a mandatory recall scheme concerning faulty vehicle airbags.

“As a company that has always prioritised quality above all else, we are conducting this recall to ensure your continued peace of mind when using your vehicle,” the letter said, despite being signed off as the Transport Department.

The department’s webpage on vehicle safety recalls said the information there was provided by authorised agents, dealers or vehicle manufacturers.

It advised members of the public to directly contact the concerned authorised agent or dealer.

An SCMP search of the webpage found 11 instances of Toyota vehicle models subject to recalls over airbag issues.