Following the devastating No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on November 30, 2025, which resulted in significant casualties and displacement, law enforcement and civic organizations have issued urgent warnings regarding sophisticated scams targeting traumatized survivors. Initial relief efforts, including emergency cash payments of HK$10,000 and supportive subsidies, have attracted opportunistic fraudsters impersonating volunteers and social workers to harvest sensitive personal data from vulnerable residents, particularly the elderly.
Authorities confirmed that malicious actors are utilizing counterfeit forms and unsolicited phone calls to illicitly gather personal, banking, and credit card details, allegedly aiming to siphon disaster funds or commit financial fraud. The Tai Po fire’s aftermath has become fertile ground for these predatory schemes, compounding the suffering of victims already dealing with emotional and material loss.
Impostors Use Fake Registration Forms to Target Survivors
Reports circulating widely on social media and validated by recent police advisories detail specific methods employed by the scammers. Individuals posing as legitimate aid workers have been seen near the affected estate carrying stacks of bogus documents titled “Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Disaster Victim Registration Form.” They approach elderly survivors, requesting crucial information such as identity card numbers, home addresses, and bank account credentials under the guise of processing relief aid.
Police identified numerous instances where fraudsters attempted to solicit not only basic personal data but also highly sensitive financial details, including online banking credentials and verification codes. These actions represent a severe threat of identity theft and direct financial loss. Following the tragedy, many residents and their families were already congregating at locations like the Kwong Fuk Estate Community Hall for support, making them vulnerable targets during this period of high distress.
One concerned citizen witnessed purported volunteers aggressively soliciting private data, including passwords, from seniors distributing supplies. Confronted, the group quickly dispersed, suggesting the organized nature of the scheme. Separately, a hospital patient recovering from smoke inhalation—a Wang Fuk Court resident—received a suspicious phone call requesting identifying information, which a vigilant nurse promptly terminated and flagged. Such incidents underscore the pervasive nature of these attacks, even reaching those in medical care.
Law Enforcement Urges Extreme Vigilance
The proliferation of these scams prompted immediate and repeated cautions from Hong Kong police. Authorities emphasized that legitimate aid organizations do not request sensitive details like passwords or full banking credentials, especially not through unsolicited forms or calls.
Key Safety Guidelines for Survivors and the Public:
- Do not complete unsolicited registration forms: Verify the legitimacy of all documents and personnel through official government or well-known organizations.
- Never disclose sensitive personal data: Avoid sharing identity card numbers, bank account details, online banking credentials, or passwords with unknown individuals or callers.
- Be suspicious of immediate demands for financial details: Legitimate aid is granted based on verified need, not immediate compliance with requests for passwords or PINs.
Police reiterate that scammers are leveraging the community’s natural desire to assist survivors. Victims and their families, already grappling with profound trauma, face the tragic possibility of financial ruin if their data is compromised.
The immediate priority for all affected residents remains engagement with verified relief channels. Any suspicious activity, including encounters with individuals requesting sensitive details under the pretext of disaster aid, should be reported immediately to law enforcement to prevent further exploitation of highly vulnerable individuals during this critical recovery phase.