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Police today (January 5) remind members of the public to be vigilant when disclosing their personal details on the Internet.

The appeal was made after two men were arrested for defacing the website of a credit card company and unlawfully downloading data from the website server.

Enquiries by the Technology Crime Division of Police Commercial Crime Bureau (TCD/CCB) revealed that the credit card company had launched a lucky draw promotion since early December last year. Cardholders could register their credit card transactions for the lucky draw through the website by providing their personal particulars and transactions details.

However, the website was hacked and data from the server was downloaded illegally between December 25 and 28.

The TCD/CCB took up the investigations and the officers arrested the two Filipino men, aged 22 and 24, in Tsim Sha Tsui on January 2 for criminal damage and access to computer with criminal and dishonest intent.

The 22-year-old man has been charged and the case was heard at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts this morning. He will re-appear at the Court on February 2.

Meanwhile, the 24-year-old man was released on Police bail pending further investigations.

"Members of the public are advised to be vigilant when disclosing personal details on the Internet and not to input any personal data if suspicious element was detected," said a Police spokesman. "Public enquiry on this case can be made by calling the TCD/CCB on 2352 9376."

Police Report No. 3

Issued by PPRB

End/1630 hours, Monday, January 5, 2004 (MM/CA)

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