繁 简
繁 简
  • IT basics
  • Secure Your Device
  • Parents & Teachers
  • Cybercrime
  • Resources & Events
  • My Account
  • Logout
繁 简
Search
START TYPING AND PRESS ENTER TO SEARCH
  • Main page
  • IT basics
    • Protecting your privacy
      • Protecting Mobile privacy
      • What is Cookie
      • HTTP VS HTTPS
    • True or Fake
      • Identifying Fake Information
      • What is Deepfake
      • +852-prefixed SMS
    • Crypto asset
      • All Started from Bitcoin
      • Basic elements of crypto asset
      • How to buy and sell crypto asset
      • Related crimes and investment risks
      • Stablecoin
      • Non-fungible token (NFT)
    • Digital Finance
      • Digital Currency & Mobile Payment
      • e-HKD
    • Internet of Things (IoT)
    • Cloud Computing
    • HTTP 404
    • Metaverse
    • Dark Web
  • Secure Your Device
    • Account Security
      • Is your password strong enough?
      • Multi-factor authentication
      • Recovery Phrase
      • Social Media Security
    • How to set up a firewall
    • Tools for Digital Devices
    • Free Public Wi-Fi
    • Cyber hygiene
    • How to dispose old mobile phone safely?
    • Does iPhone need anti-virus?
  • Parents & Teachers
    • Netiquette
    • Digital Literacy
    • Abusive Online Content
    • Misconducts
      • Cyber-bullying
      • Online Doxxing
      • Voyeurism Offence
      • Online Child Sexual Grooming
      • Child pornography
      • Cybersex, naked chat, sex message
    • Protect children from online sexual threats
    • Internet Guidelines for teenagers
    • Social media privacy guidelines
    • Learning resources
    • Story
  • Cybercrime
    • Cyber Security Threats
      • Phishing attack
      • Ransomware
      • Distributed Denial of Service attack
      • Internet of Things attack
      • Advanced Persistent attack
      • Man-in-the-middle attack
      • Identity theft
    • Online Scams
      • Victims’ mind
      • Business Email Compromise
      • Online Shopping Fraud
      • Romance Scam
      • Compensated Dating Scam
      • Naked Chat Blackmail
      • Online Investment Fraud
      • Online Employment Fraud
      • WhatsApp Hijacking
      • Credit Card Fraud
    • Cybercrime Figures
  • Resources & Events
    • Events
    • Clips and Infographics
    • Critical Infrastructure Page
    • Learning resources
    • Useful links
  • My Account
  • Logout
Search
  • IT basics
  • Secure Your Device
  • Parents & Teachers
  • Cybercrime
  • Resources & Events
  • My Account
  • Logout
Menu
  • IT basics
  • Secure Your Device
  • Parents & Teachers
  • Cybercrime
  • Resources & Events
  • My Account
  • Logout

Some members of public might raise suspicion when receiving SMS messages from the government departments with a prefix +852 in sender ID.

Is SMS with a prefix +852 suspicious?

Some members of public might raise suspicion when receiving SMS messages from the government departments with a prefix +852 in sender ID. Are these messages genuine?

We have conducted simple tests. Results revealed that the latest Apple iOS system will insert a prefix +852 to local sender ID which is out of contact list, except incoming calls. On the contrary, the recent Android systems will not. In other words, if you are Apple users, it is normal to receive SMS with a prefix +852, but you should be alert to possible phone scams when receive local +852 incoming calls.

If the SMS sender displays “HKSARG”, does it mean that it is sent from the authority?

Not always. Application-to-Person (A2P) SMS allows senders to set their own IDs with a maximum of 11 alphabetic characters (i.e. Customized sender ID) to facilitate commercial activities.

In Hong Kong, Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance requires senders of commercial electronic messages to provide clear and accurate sender information in the message, but does not require a registration system for customized sender ID in place to filter junk messages. Therefore, overseas fraudsters could exploit these loopholes to send phishing SMS impersonating staff of banks, postal services, etc.

If in doubt, you are advised to verify with the corresponding organisations through official channels.

Reference:

OFCA – Unsolicited Electronic Messages Ordinance

You may be interested in

e-HKD

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) unveiled “Fintech 2025” in the mid-2021, which aims to encourage the financial sector to…

Dark Web

The Internet reaches almost everywhere and contains massive source of information. How much information is accessible to the public? From…

Abusive Online Content

In the digital age, teenagers have started to use the Internet since their childhood. Online content varies greatly. To what…

Is SMS with a prefix +852 suspicious?

Some members of public might raise suspicion when receiving SMS messages from the government departments with a prefix +852 in…

Metaverse

The concept of Metaverse originates from Snow Crash, a science fiction novel published in 1992 by an American writer, Neal…

Non-fungible token

NFT is a new form of virtual asset investment. Common NFT includes digital image, audio-visual file and video clip which…

Social Media Platforms and Video Channels

Facebook Youtube Instagram
© 2022 CyberDefender. All rights reserved
  • Important Notice
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
當使用者瀏覽守網者網站時,小型文字檔案(Cookies)會建立於電腦內,這種檔案通常包含匿名而獨有的識別符,用以辨識個別電腦,但不能用以收集任何個人資料,亦不具備辨識網站個別使用者的功能。任何屬意訂閲本網站時所提供的個人資料只會用於日後接收守網者宣傳資訊之用。
接受
Cookie 政策

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Sign up for web hosting today!

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.