HKMA Issues Alert on Fraudulent Websites and Phishing Messages Related to ICBC (Asia)

The
Hong
Kong
Monetary
Authority
(HKMA)
has
issued
a
public
alert
concerning
fraudulent
websites
and
phishing
instant
messages
that
are
impersonating
the
Industrial
and
Commercial
Bank
of
China
(Asia)
Limited
(ICBC
Asia).
The
alert
was
published
on
August
23,
2024,
according
to
the
official

HKMA
website.

Details
of
the
Fraudulent
Activities

According
to
the
HKMA,
these
fraudulent
schemes
involve
websites
and
instant
messages
that
mislead
individuals
into
providing
sensitive
personal
information.
The
HKMA
has
reiterated
that
legitimate
banks,
including
ICBC
Asia,
will
not
send
SMS
or
emails
containing
embedded
hyperlinks
directing
recipients
to
the
bank’s
website
to
conduct
transactions.
Furthermore,
they
will
not
request
sensitive
information
such
as
login
passwords
or
One-Time
Passwords
(OTPs)
through
phone,
email,
or
SMS.

Public
Advisory

The
HKMA
advises
anyone
who
has
provided
personal
information
or
conducted
financial
transactions
via
these
fraudulent
websites
or
messages
to
immediately
contact
ICBC
Asia
using
the
contact
details
provided
in
the
press
release.
Additionally,
these
individuals
should
report
the
incident
to
the
Crime
Wing
Information
Centre
of
the
Hong
Kong
Police
Force
at
2860
5012.

Ongoing
Efforts

This
alert
from
the
HKMA
is
part
of
a
broader
effort
to
combat
cyber
fraud
and
protect
consumers.
The
HKMA
continues
to
monitor
and
address
fraudulent
schemes
that
target
banking
customers,
working
closely
with
law
enforcement
agencies
and
financial
institutions
to
mitigate
risks
and
enhance
public
awareness.

For
further
updates
and
information
on
how
to
protect
against
such
scams,
the
public
is
encouraged
to
visit
the
HKMA’s
website
and
stay
informed
about
the
latest
advisories
and
security
measures.

Hong
Kong
Monetary
Authority
23
August
2024

Image
source:
Shutterstock