SmarTone's Guardians of Network Security

2024.10.31

Alert: Beware of Telecom Impersonation Scams!

Scammers are recently impersonating customer service representatives from telecom companies in attempts to deceive individuals into disclosing their online banking usernames, passwords and verification codes. SmarTone implemented Hong Kong’s first “Staff Verification Code” earlier this year. If you receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to be from SmarTone, you can verify their identity in 3 simple steps to avoid falling victim to phone scams!

Using SmarTone’s “Staff Verification Code” is simple:

If customers receive a phone call claiming to be a SmarTone staff, they can instantly request the caller to send a “Staff Verification Code” for identification
Customers can receive the “Staff Verification Code” in 2 ways:
- SmarTone CARE App: a one-time four-digit code; or
- SMS from Registered Sender ID “#SmarTone”: a one-time four-digit code
After receiving the code, request the staff to read it out to verify their identity

When in doubt, please WhatsApp our verified ✔ customer service hotline for verification or report:
https://www.smartone.com/hk/CS/wts/1/e

For more network security and anti-scam tips:
https://www.smartone.com/hk/0816/Cybersecurity/MMS/en

2024.09.12

Alert: Beware of “New Handset Order” Phishing SMS!

Our network has recently detected that scammers are exploiting the launch of new handsets by impersonating telecommunication providers to send phishing messages about handset deliveries, installment offers, order enquiries or returns to mislead individuals into clicking on fraudulent websites and stealing personal information, credit card details and other sensitive data.

SmarTone Reiterates:

We will only send the updates and notifications about handset order, pickup and payment via SMS from “#SmarTone” or verified SmarTone WhatsApp.
For your protection, payment and pickup time selection must be completed through the SmarTone CARE App
Links sent from us will only use the official domains, including “smartone.com”, “s-rewards.hk” and “smartonesolutions.com.hk”

When in doubt, please WhatsApp our verified ✔ customer service hotline for verification or report: https://www.smartone.com/hk/CS/wts/1/e

For more network security and anti-scam tips: https://www.smartone.com/hk/0816/Cybersecurity/MMS/en

2024.08.16

Alert: Beware of “Points Expired” Scam!

SmarTone urges customers to be vigilant against a fraudulent SMS. The message falsely claims that customers can redeem gifts with their accumulated points via the fraudulent link, requesting customers to provide their personal and credit card information. SmarTone hereby emphasizes that we have no affiliation with this fraudulent SMS and website. SmarTone will never send messages requesting customers to redeem gifts using their points. If you receive any suspicious messages or links, we strongly advise not to click on the links or provide any personal information. SmarTone is committed to ensuring the online security of our customers. Please be aware of the following security measures to protect yourselves:

SMS from SmarTone official account comes with the prefix "#" in the "Sender ID", e.g. "#SmarTone"
Links sent from us will only use the official domains, including “smartone.com”, “s-rewards.hk” and “smartonesolutions.com.hk”
All SmarTone’s social media, WhatsApp and WeChat accounts are officially verified with a tick

When in doubt, please WhatsApp our verified ✔ customer service hotline for verification or report: https://www.smartone.com/hk/CS/wts/1/e

To learn more network security and anti-scam tips, click https://www.smartone.com/hk/Cyber-Security-EN

2024.03.13

Alert: Beware of Fraudulent Website (smartone.services)

SmarTone urges customers to be vigilant against a fraudulent SMS. The message falsely claims that customers can redeem gifts with their accumulated points via the fraudulent link (smartone.services), requesting customers to provide their personal and credit card information. SmarTone hereby emphasizes that we have no affiliation with this fraudulent SMS and website. SmarTone will never send messages requesting customers to redeem gifts using their points. If you receive any suspicious messages or links, we strongly advise not to click on the links or provide any personal information. SmarTone is committed to ensuring the online security of our customers. Please be aware of the following security measures to protect yourselves:

SMS is sent to customers via the Registered Sender IDs, such as “#SmarTone”.
We will only use links with the official domain names “smartone.com”, “s-rewards.hk” and “smartonesolutions.com.hk” in our communications. When you receive a message, please remember to:
1. Check the URL before clicking
2. Double-check the URL after entering the website
If you are suspicious about a message or link, please contact our verified WhatsApp customer service hotline +852 9660 2688 or call Anti-Scam Helpline 18222, and seek help from the Police.

2023.11.24

3 WhatsApp scam prevention tips to protect your account

A new WhatsApp scam has emerged recently! Scammers would impersonate your family or friends and ask you for the SMS verification code. Once you send them the code, they will use it to login to your WhatsApp account, before stealing your personal and banking information. They may even impersonate you and scam your WhatsApp contacts.
SmarTone wishes to remind our customers that follow below 3 tips to avoid falling into their scams:
1. Enable two-step verification
2. Verify the identity of the sender before providing any information
3. Check and log out of unknown linked devices regularly
Remember, SmarTone is verified on all social media platforms including WhatsApp! Simply look for the checkmark to verify that it is our official account.

2023.10.10

iOS Update

Apple has recently announced they were made aware of a zero-day vulnerability on iOS 16.6. Hackers may take advantage of the vulnerability yet patched and potentially take over victim’s device remotely and elevate their privileges, thereby stealing the data in the device or performing acts of destruction.
In the light of this, Apple has released iOS 17.0.3 to provide security updates and address the vulnerabilities. To secure your personal data, please update your iPhone and iPad to the latest iOS.

2023.10.10

iOS Update

Apple has recently announced they were made aware of a zero-day vulnerability on iOS 16.6. Hackers may take advantage of the vulnerability yet patched and potentially take over victim’s device remotely and elevate their privileges, thereby stealing the data in the device or performing acts of destruction.
In the light of this, Apple has released iOS 17.0.3 to provide security updates and address the vulnerabilities. To secure your personal data, please update your iPhone and iPad to the latest iOS.

2023.07.09

Beware of Fraud

There has been a staggering increase in online scams recently. SmarTone has previously enhanced our network security system and implemented a one-time verification code measure to further protect customer data. We remind customers to remain vigilant at all times. If you receive an unsolicited verification code message or email, please ignore it or contact us. For enquiries, please call SmarTone customer hotline at 2880 2688 or WhatsApp us at 9660 2688.

2023.04.04

Beware of Phishing Messages and Fraudulent Phone Calls

SmarTone has noted a recent appearance of phishing messages under the guise of representing SmarTone. These messages request customers to “The Point bonus points – about to expire” under false pretenses, directing customers to click on fraudulent website links to collect your personal data and credit card information.
SmarTone wishes to remind our customers that these phishing messages are not affiliated with SmarTone. The official website domain of SmarTone is “smartone.com”, and our loyalty program - SmarTone Plus’s official website is “s-rewards.hk”. When you access our online service via a website browser, please verify that the domain of the URL belongs to “smartone.com” or “s-rewards.hk”. Please do not input any personal information via suspicious links.
For any enquiries, please call SmarTone's service hotline 2880 2688.

2023.02.27

Beware of Phishing Messages and Fraudulent Phone Calls

SmarTone has noted a recent appearance of phishing messages under the guise of representing SmarTone. These messages request customers to “redeem gifts – about to expire” under false pretenses, directing customers to click on fraudulent website links to collect your personal data and credit card information.
SmarTone wishes to remind our customers that these phishing messages are not affiliated with SmarTone. The official website domain of SmarTone is “smartone.com”, and our loyalty program - SmarTone Plus’s official website is “s-rewards.hk”. When you access our online service via a website browser, please verify that the domain of the URL belongs to “smartone.com” or “s-rewards.hk”. Please do not input any personal information via suspicious links.
In the meanwhile, the Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) reminded members of the public to stay alert to fraudulent calls purporting to be made by the Communications Authority (CA) or OFCA in relation to real-name registration for SIM-cards. The calls were made in the form of pre-recorded message or by a real person claiming that as the recipients had failed to complete real-name registrations for their SIM-cards, their telephone services would be suspended unless they provided personal information for the callers to complete the real-name registration for them.
OFCA clarified that the CA and OFCA have never made and will not make such phone calls. Members of the public should disregard these calls, and under no circumstances should they disclose their personal information to the callers. They may report cases of suspected phone scam to the Police.
For any enquiries, please call SmarTone's service hotline 2880 2688.

2022.11.21

Beware of Phishing Messages and Fraudulent Phone Calls

SmarTone has noted a recent appearance of phishing websites and emails, both under the guise of representing SmarTone. These websites and emails request customers for “Refund/Gifts” under false pretenses, directing customers to click on fraudulent website links to collect your personal data and credit card information.
SmarTone wishes to remind our customers that these phishing websites and emails are not affiliated with SmarTone. The official website domain of SmarTone is “smartone.com”, and our loyalty program - SmarTone Plus’s official website is “s-rewards.hk”. When you access our online service via a website browser, please verify that the domain of the URL belongs to “smartone.com” or “s-rewards.hk”. Please do not input any personal information via suspicious links.。
For any enquiries, please call our service hotline 2880 2688.

2022.09.15

A reminder for iOS users

Apple has released a new version of OS for iPhone and iPad on 12th Sep, 2022. The new iOS/iPadOS version 15.7 addressed multiple critical security vulnerabilities. Customers are strongly encouraged to update to the iOS/iPadOS 15.7 or above as soon as possible. For details, please refer to the link below: https://support.apple.com/en-hk/HT213445

2022.08.19

A reminder for iOS users

Apple has released a new version of OS for iPhone and iPad on 18th Aug, 2022. The new iOS/iPadOS version 15.6.1 addressed multiple critical security vulnerabilities. Customers are strongly encouraged to update to the latest iOS/iPadOS as soon as possible. For details, please refer to the link below: https://support.apple.com/en-hk/HT213412

2022.07.09

Beware of Phishing Websites and Emails

SmarTone has noted a recent appearance of phishing websites and emails, both under the guise of representing SmarTone. These websites and emails request customers for “Repayments” under false pretenses, directing customers to click on fraudulent website links to collect your personal data and credit card information.
SmarTone wishes to remind our customers that these phishing websites and emails are not affiliated with SmarTone. The official website domain of SmarTone is “smartone.com”, and our loyalty program - SmarTone Plus’s official website is “s-rewards.hk”. When you access our online service via a website browser, please verify that the domain of the URL belongs to “smartone.com” or “s-rewards.hk”. Please do not input any personal information via suspicious links.
For any enquiries, please call our service hotline 2880 2688.

2021.11.26

Beware of Fraudulent Website

SmarTone notices that there is fraudulent website using fake domain name in India. This fraudulent website may attempt to collect sensitive customer data and the information collected may be used for committing fraud. SmarTone wishes to alert our official SmaTone website domains below, when you access our online service via a website browser, please verify the domain of the URL, and do not input any personal information via suspicious links.
- SmarTone Consumer (Hong Kong & Macau)smartone.com
- SmarTone Plus Loyalty Programs-rewards.hk
- SmarTone Solutions (Business Service)smartonesolutions.com.hk
- SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Limitedsmartoneholdings.com
For any enquiries, please call our service hotline 2880 2688.

2021.06.09

Beware of Fraudulent Website and SMS

Beware of phishing SMS text message that pretended to be sent from SmarTone offering a refund or requesting customer to settle overdue bill . It will trick you clicking on the embedded link to go a fraudulent website to collect your sensitive personal data and credit card information.
SmarTone wishes to alert our customer the official website domain of SmarTone is “smartone.com”, and our loyalty program - SmarTone Plus official website is “s-rewards.hk”. When you access our online service via a website browser, please verify the domain of the URL belongs to “smartone.com” or “s-rewards.hk”. Please do not input any personal information via suspicious links.
For any enquiries, please contact our service hotline on 2880 2688.

2021.05.13

Beware of Fraudulent Website

Beware of phishing message that pretended to be sent from SmarTone. It will trick you clicking on the embedded link to go a fraudulent Website to collect your sensitive personal data and credit card information.
SmarTone wishes to alert our customer the official website domain of SmarTone is “smartone.com”, and our loyalty program - SmarTone Plus official website is “s-rewards.hk”. When you access our online service via a website browser, please verify the domain of the URL belongs to “smartone.com” or “s-rewards.hk”. Please do not input any personal information via suspicious links.
For any enquiries, please contact our service hotline on 2880 2688.

2021.05.13

Update Android OS now to avoid a serious security flaw

Discovered by researchers at Check Point Research (CPR), Qualcomm’s Mobile Station Modem (MSM) can be exploited by hackers and use the vulnerability to infect Android OS with unseen, malicious code with a specially crafted SMS, thereby providing them access to user audio conversations as well as SMS threads and call history, and malware will be installed and hackers can gain full access to the user's device and steal photographs, messages, contacts, locations and other data.
SmarTone advise Android users always make sure your mobile phone has been updated with the latest version of the Android OS. This helps protect your device against any flaws that have been exploited.

2021.02.09

Beware of Fraudulent Website

Beware of phishing message that pretended to be sent from SmarTone. It will trick you clicking on the embedded link to go a fraudulent Website to collect your sensitive personal data and credit card information.
SmarTone wishes to alert our customer the official website domain of SmarTone is “smartone.com”, and our loyalty program - SmarTone Plus official website is “s-rewards.hk”. When you access our online service via a website browser, please verify the domain of the URL belongs to “smartone.com” or “s-rewards.hk”. Please do not input any personal information via suspicious links.
For any enquiries, please contact our service hotline on 2880 2688.

2020.07.28

Beware of fraudulent phone calls

SmarTone notices that there are fraudulent phone calls and suspected fraudulent calls purporting to be made by our company. These fraudulent phone calls may attempt to collect sensitive customer data and the information collected may be used for committing fraud. Most of the calls were in the form of pre-recorded messages claiming that the recipients' telephone services would be suspended because of anomalies with their telephone services. Most of the callers instructed the called parties to press a designated numeric key (e.g. '1' or '9') for further enquiries, and asked for the called parties' personal information.
SmarTone wishes to alert our customer, we have never made and will not make such phone calls and pre-recorded messages, irrespective of whether a ‘+852' sign is displayed as a prefix to the calling numbers. Under no circumstances disclose your personal information in answering the calls.
If they have any questions regarding the status of their telecommunications services, they should contact their telecommunications operators for details direct.
For any enquiries, please contact our service hotline on 2880 2688.

2020.04.06

Important Notice for Online Marketplaces

SmarTone noticed that some suspects are selling counterfeits with a fabricated merchant receipt on some online marketplaces. We would suggest our customer to shop genuine products from official online channel like SmarTone Online Store (shop.smartone.com) for a worry-free shopping experience

2020.03.04

Beware of fraudulent websites and phone calls

SmarTone notices that there are fraudulent websites using fake domain name and suspected fraudulent calls purporting to be made by the Communications Authority (CA) or OFCA. These fraudulent websites and phone calls may attempt to collect sensitive customer data and the information collected may be used for committing fraud.
SmarTone wishes to alert our customer the official website domain of SmarTone is “smartone.com”, and our loyalty program - SmarTone Plus official website is “s-rewards.hk”. When you access our online service via a website browser, please verify the domain of the URL belongs to “smartone.com” or “s-rewards.hk”. Please do not input any personal information via suspicious links.
For any enquiries, please contact our service hotline on 2880 2688.

2019.10.02

Beware of fraudulent websites

SmarTone notices that there are fraudulent websites using fake domain name. These fraudulent websites may attempt to collect sensitive customer data and the information collected may be used for committing fraud.
SmarTone wishes to alert our customer the official website domain of SmarTone is “smartone.com”, and our loyalty program - SmarTone Plus official website is “s-rewards.hk”. When you access our online service via a website browser, please verify the domain of the URL belongs to “smartone.com” or “s-rewards.hk”. Please do not input any personal information via suspicious links.
For any enquiries, please contact our service hotline on 2880 2688.

2019.09.04

Beware of malware infected websites

Google's security team discovered an attack that targets iPhone users. A group of websites was exploited to compromise iPhones with iOS 10~12 with vulnerabilities in Safari and iOS. When a user visits the infected website, malware will be installed and hackers can gain full access to the user's device and steal photographs, messages, contacts, locations and other data.

2019.08.14

Beware of phishing phone calls and SMS

SmarTone notices there is a fraudulent website. This fraudulent website may attempt to collect sensitive customer data and the information collected may be used for committing fraud.
SmarTone wishes to alert our customer the official website domain of SmarTone is “smartone.com”, and our loyalty program - SmarTone Plus official website is “s-rewards.hk”. When you access our online service via a website browser, please verify the domain of the URL belongs to “smartone.com” or “s-rewards.hk”. Please do not input any personal information via suspicious links.
For any enquiries, please contact our service hotline on 2880 2688.

2019.05.16

WhatsApp has recently revealed a hack of its voice calling

WhatsApp has recently revealed a hack of its voice calling function that enables hackers to spy on users’ phone without their knowledge. To ensure safety when using your mobile phone and social media, you are advised to take the following measures immediately:

Update WhatsApp to the latest version
Disable cloud backup for WhatsApp to avoid your chat history being leaked in case the cloud is hacked
Enable WhatsApp’s two-step verification (Settings > Account > Two-step verification) to add more security to your account

SmarTone provides information about network security from time to time for better protection of our customers.

2019.04.24

Beware of fraudulent website

SmarTone notices there is a fraudulent website using a domain name (http:// smartonehk.net). This fraudulent website may attempt to collect sensitive customer data and the information collected may be used for committing fraud. We have reported these cases to the Hong Kong Police.
SmarTone wishes to alert our customers the official website domain of SmarTone is “smartone.com”. When you access our online service via a website browser, please verify the domain of the URL is “smartone.com”. Please do not input any personal information via suspicious links.
For any enquiries, please contact our service hotline on 2880 2688.

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