A Hong Kong resident is grappling with the severe consequences of identity theft after his lost identification card was allegedly used to register phone cards. this has led to multiple arrests, with the individual being taken into custody three times in connection to cases involving “collecting red oil,” a slang term for illegal activities. The victim expressed immense frustration and anger, according to [[1]].

The man, whose name has been withheld, reported his ID as missing but was repeatedly arrested when new phone cards were opened under his name. He has sought to check the associated phone numbers, highlighting the distress caused by the situation. The victim lamented the varying practices among telecommunications merchants, as reported by [[2]].

Online Sales and Registration Loopholes

“The spirit is almost collapsed”

Reports indicate that online sales of registered phone cards are prevalent, with some selling for as little as $100. Sellers are allegedly offering “big certificates” that can be used to register cards on behalf of companies for a fee, according to [[3]]. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of the real name registration system in preventing fraud and illicit activities.

Qiu Yinghua has stated that millions of phone stored-value card registration materials were found to be inconsistent and were subsequently denied registration, as reported by [[4]]. This highlights the challenges in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the registration process.

Systemic Issues and Victim Impact

The case has brought into question the validity of the real name system, with some questioning how an invalid ID card could still pass the registration process. The repeated arrests have taken a significant toll on the victim, who says “The spirit is almost collapsed,” according to [[5]].