HKMA Alerts Public to Fraudulent Bank Websites and Scams Involving Five Banks
Summary
The HKMA issued a scam alert on 27 April 2026 advising the public of fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, and phishing emails involving five named banks: The Bank of East Asia, Shanghai Commercial Bank, Chong Hing Bank, OCBC Bank (Hong Kong), and China CITIC Bank International. The alert clarifies that legitimate banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks directing customers to their websites to carry out transactions, nor will they request sensitive information such as login passwords or one-time passwords by phone, email, or SMS. Members of the public who have provided personal information or conducted transactions through these scams are advised to contact the relevant bank and report the matter to the Hong Kong Police Force Crime Wing Information Centre.
“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.”
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GovPing monitors HKMA Press Releases for new banking & finance regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 79 changes logged to date.
What changed
The HKMA published a scam alert on 27 April 2026 identifying five banks whose customers have been targeted by fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, and phishing emails. The alert includes hyperlinks to individual bank press releases and provides guidance to the public on how to identify legitimate bank communications. The HKMA clarified that banks will not initiate contact via embedded hyperlinks or request sensitive authentication credentials through unsolicited channels. Affected consumers who have provided personal information or completed transactions through these fraudulent channels are directed to contact their bank and report the matter to Hong Kong Police at the Crime Wing Information Centre.
Archived snapshot
Apr 27, 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
27 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 website and internet banking login screen |
| Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited | Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen |
| Chong Hing Bank Limited | Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen |
| OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited | Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens |
| China CITIC Bank International Limited | Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen |
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
27 April 2026
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