Scam Alert: Fraudulent Bank Websites and Phishing
Summary
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued a scam alert on 21 April 2026 notifying the public of fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, and phishing messages reported in connection with five named banks: The Bank of East Asia, Limited; Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited; Chong Hing Bank Limited; OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited; and Ant Bank (Hong Kong) Limited. The HKMA reminded the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks directing customers to conduct transactions, nor will they solicit sensitive information such as login passwords or One-Time Passwords by phone, email, or SMS. The HKMA provided the Hong Kong Police Force Crime Wing Information Centre contact number (2860 5012) for reporting.
What changed
The HKMA published a scam alert alerting members of the public to fraudulent activity involving five named banks. The alert details the types of scams reported: fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens (four banks) and phishing instant messages (one bank), with hyperlinks to the individual bank press releases available on the HKMA website.
Affected members of the public who may have disclosed personal information or conducted transactions through these fraudulent channels should contact the relevant bank using the contact details in each bank's press release and report the matter to the Hong Kong Police Force. The alert serves as a consumer-protection advisory; it does not impose new regulatory obligations on the named banks beyond existing fraud-reporting and customer-notification requirements.
What to do next
- Contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release
- Report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012
Archived snapshot
Apr 22, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Scam alert related to banks
Press Releases
21 Apr 2026
Scam alert related to banks
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to the press releases issued by the banks listed below relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, phishing emails or other scams, which have been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlinks to the press releases are available on the HKMA website.
| Bank | Type of Scam |
|---|---|
| The Bank of East Asia, Limited | Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens |
| Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited | Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens |
| Chong Hing Bank Limited | Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens |
| OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited | Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen |
| Ant Bank (Hong Kong) Limited | Phishing instant messages |
The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or One-Time Password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
Hong Kong Monetary Authority
21 April 2026
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