Phone fraudster targeted HIV patients using leaked information

An investigation has been launched by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention after there was a suspected leak of confidential information about people infected with HIV.

The Beijing News reported on Sunday that people infected with HIV from 30 provincial regions had received phone calls from someone claiming to be a government official. This "official" was actually a fraudster, who told patients that they would receive an allowance if they paid a fee first.

It's possible the confidential information of a great number of people infected with HIV has been leaked, the report said.

An official from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, who was not identified, said in a statement on the National Health and Family Planning Commission's website that the center had reported the case to police, and called its local branches to inform people infected with HIV of possible phone fraud.

The center will review its information systems, enhance encryption measures and cooperate with police to crack the case as soon as possible, the official said.

"We hope that anyone who receives these fraudulent calls reports the matter to their local public security department immediately," the official added.