The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) urged construction workers to stay vigilant against fraudulent recruitment ads as Chinese New Year approaches.

In the past two weeks, the PCPD received 42 complaints from workers who shared personal details with scammers posing as recruiters on social media and messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and WeChat.

Victims reported sharing personal information such as their ID Card, Construction Workers Registration Card, Safety Training Certificate, and even bank account details with alleged recruiters who published recruitment messages on platforms.

"The publisher subsequently requested the workers to gather at designated MTR station exits at specified times. However, the publisher failed to show up and could no longer be contacted," the PCPD said.

"The construction workers were therefore concerned about their personal data being maliciously used by criminals or for other illegal purposes, so they lodged complaints with the PCPD," it added.

As fraudsters are becoming increasingly active, the PCPD reminded job seekers to verify the authenticity of employers, avoid disclosing sensitive data before confirming an offer and keep communication records during the recruitment process.