Scammers may be sending SMS messages with ‘#’ sign, Hong Kong agency warns

Criminals may be using illegal radio jammers to send out text messages prefixed with a hashtag, a symbol only available to registered firms

SCMP - Scammers could be using illegal radio jammers to transmit text messages with a sender ID prefixed with a hashtag, a symbol only available to registered companies, Hong Kong communications authorities warned on Friday.

The Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) said some people had reported receiving suspicious text messages with a “#” symbol, used in the “SMS Sender Registration Scheme” that was implemented in 2023 as part of efforts to combat phishing scams.

Under the scheme, messages from major telecoms providers such as SmarTone, 3HK and 1010 incorporate a hashtag as part of their sender IDs. Only registered parties can use the symbol.

“OFCA has recently received inquiries from members of the public stating that they have received suspected fraudulent text messages sent with the name of the text message sender starting with the ‘#’ sign,” it said.

The office said it had immediately contacted the people involved and the relevant telecoms providers.

“OFCA does not rule out the possibility of criminals using illegal radio jammers to send messages, and is working with telecommunications companies and police to conduct further follow-up actions,” it said.

The office urged the public to remain vigilant when handling hyperlinks in text messages, and warned people not to disclose personal information or transfer money to avoid losses.

Police said 44,480 scam cases were reported in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 11.7 per cent.

More than 10,000 people were arrested in connection with scams and money-laundering activities in 2024, a 13.6 per cent increase from the year before. The figure included people suspected of holding stooge accounts to process crime proceeds.