HKMA Warns Public Against Fraudulent Communications

The
Hong
Kong
Monetary
Authority
(HKMA)
has
issued
a
public
alert
regarding
the
proliferation
of
fraudulent
emails,
advertisements,
and
phone
calls
falsely
claiming
to
be
associated
with
the
institution.
The
HKMA
disclosed
that
it
has
received
numerous
public
enquiries
about
these
deceptive
communications.

Details
of
the
Fraudulent
Activities

Among
the
reported
scams,
several
specific
instances
have
been
highlighted:

1. A
   fraudster
   impersonating
   an
   HKMA
   staff
   member
   claimed
   to
   assist
   in
   recovering
   losses
   from
   fraud.
2. An
   individual
   received
   a
   notification
   from
   a
   fraudulent
   bank
   email
   stating
   that
   their
   fund
   transfer
   was
   intercepted.
   This
   notification
   falsely
   claimed
   to
   be
   from
   the
   HKMA’s
   public
   enquiry
   service.
3. A
   bogus
   HKMA
   advertisement
   circulated
   on
   social
   media,
   falsely
   asserting
   that
   the
   Hong
   Kong
   Special
   Administrative
   Region
   Government
   and
   various
   financial
   institutions
   could
   offer
   interest-free
   emergency
   loans.
4. A
   fraudster
   posed
   as
   customer
   service
   staff
   from
   an
   instant
   messaging
   app,
   notifying
   a
   user
   of
   an
   activated
   insurance
   service.
   The
   call
   was
   then
   transferred
   to
   another
   fraudster
   impersonating
   an
   HKMA
   employee,
   who
   demanded
   a
   fee
   to
   cancel
   the
   service.

HKMA’s
Response
and
Public
Advisory

The
HKMA
reiterated
that
it
does
not
contact
individuals
regarding
personal
financial
matters.
The
public
is
urged
to
remain
vigilant
and
pay
attention
to
information
regarding
fraudulent
websites,
phishing
emails,
and
similar
scams
as
disseminated
by
banks.
Relevant
press
releases
and
updates
can
be
found
on
the

HKMA
website.

Report
and
Investigations

In
response
to
these
incidents,
the
HKMA
has
reported
the
cases
to
the
Hong
Kong
Police
Force.
Individuals
who
suspect
they
have
fallen
victim
to
such
fraudulent
activities
are
encouraged
to
contact
the
Commercial
and
Technology
Crime
Hotline
at
2860
5012
or
to
file
a
report
via
the

e-Report
Centre.

The
HKMA’s
proactive
stance
underscores
its
commitment
to
protecting
the
public
from
financial
fraud
and
ensuring
the
integrity
of
communications
associated
with
the
institution.

Image
source:
Shutterstock

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