HKMA warns public about fraudulent communications

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has issued a public warning about the proliferation of fraudulent emails, advertisements and phone calls falsely claiming to be linked to the agency. The HKMA said it had received numerous public inquiries about these fraudulent communications.

Details of the fraudulent activity

Among the reported scams, several specific examples have been highlighted.

1. Fraudsters posing as HKMA employees claimed to have helped recover losses resulting from the fraud.
2. An individual received a notification from a fraudulent bank email that their funds transfer had been blocked. The notice was falsely claimed to have been sent by the HKMA’s public inquiry service.
3. A false HKMA advertisement was circulated on social media falsely claiming that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and various financial institutions could provide interest-free emergency loans.
4. Scammers posed as customer service representatives on the instant messaging app and alerted users to activated insurance services. The call was then transferred to another scammer posing as an HKMA employee, who demanded payment for service cancellation.

HKMA response and public consultation

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

Report and Investigation

In response to these incidents, the HKMA reported the incident to the Hong Kong Police. Individuals who suspect they have been victims of such fraudulent activity are encouraged to contact the Commercial and Technical Crime Hotline on 2860 5012 or report it via the Electronic Reporting Centre.

HKMA’s proactive stance underlines its commitment to protecting the public from financial fraud and ensuring the integrity of communications involving the agency.

Image source: Shutterstock

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