Brinztech Alert: The Alleged Database of Kin Teck Tong is Leaked

Dark Web News Analysis

The dark web news reports a significant medical data privacy breach involving Kin Teck Tong, a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provider in Singapore. A threat actor on a hacker forum has released a database allegedly containing 150,000 patient records. The breach is reported to have occurred in January 2026, making this a fresh and active threat.

The compromised data fields are highly sensitive, including Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as Full Names, Phone Numbers, Physical Addresses, Dates of Birth, and crucially, IC Numbers (NRIC/FIN). Furthermore, the leak reportedly includes Medical History and Allergy Information, exposing patients’ private health conditions.

Key Cybersecurity Insights

Breaches involving Singaporean medical data carry severe regulatory and personal security risks:

• The NRIC Threat: In Singapore, the IC Number (NRIC) is the primary anchor for identity. It is used for government services (SingPass), banking, and housing. With 150,000 NRICs exposed alongside names and dates of birth, attackers have the complete “Fullz” needed to commit identity theft or apply for fraudulent loans.
• Targeted Medical Phishing: The exposure of Medical History and Allergies allows for incredibly cruel but effective social engineering. Attackers can impersonate TCM practitioners or health officials, referencing a patient’s specific ailment (e.g., “We have a new treatment for your chronic back pain”) to sell fake supplements or extract payments.
• PDPA Penalties: This incident likely constitutes a major violation of Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). The PDPC (Personal Data Protection Commission) imposes heavy financial penalties for breaches involving NRICs and medical data, which are considered sensitive personal data.
• Freshness of Data: Since the breach occurred in January 2026 (this month), the data is currently accurate. Patients have not yet changed their phone numbers or moved addresses, maximizing the success rate for scammers using this list.

Mitigation Strategies

To protect patients and comply with Singaporean regulations, the following strategies are recommended:

• PDPC Notification: Kin Teck Tong must notify the PDPC immediately. Under Singapore law, notifiable data breaches must be reported within 3 calendar days.
• Patient Alerts: Send urgent SMS and email notifications to all 150,000 affected patients. Explicitly warn them: “We will never ask for your NRIC or bank details over the phone regarding your medical records.”
• ScamWatch Advisory: Cooperate with the Singapore Police Force or ScamShield to blacklist any phone numbers used by scammers targeting this specific user base.
• Access Control Review: Investigate how the database was exfiltrated. Was it an unsecured S3 bucket, a vendor breach, or a compromised employee account?

Secure Your Business with Brinztech — Global Cybersecurity Solutions

Brinztech protects organizations worldwide from evolving cyber threats. Whether you’re a startup or a global enterprise, our expert solutions keep your digital assets safe and your operations running smoothly.

Questions or Feedback?

For expert advice, use our ‘Ask an Analyst’ feature. Brinztech does not warrant the validity of external claims. For general inquiries or to report this post, please email us: contact@brinztech.com