The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has issued a public warning about instant message phishing linked to Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited (ICBC Asia). According to the HKMA, these fraudulent messages have been reported to authorities, prompting a rapid response to protect consumers.
Phishing scam details
The HKMA emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant against phishing attempts, which often seek to steal sensitive personal information. Fraudulent messages are known to direct recipients to fake websites mimicking legitimate banking portals, where they are asked to provide personal and financial information such as login passwords and one-time passwords (OTPs).
To help the public be aware of and avoid these scams, the HKMA has emphasized that banks will never send SMS or emails containing hyperlinks directing customers to conduct transactions on the website. Additionally, the bank will never request personal information through phone calls, emails or SMS messages with embedded links.
Immediate action for affected individuals
HKMA advises anyone who has received such a phishing message and provided personal information or conducted a financial transaction in response to it, to immediately contact ICBC Asia using the official contact information provided in the bank’s press release. Individuals are also urged to report incidents to police by contacting the Hong Kong Police Crime Investigation Unit Information Center on 2860 5012.
public consultation
In its advisory, the HKMA encourages the public to exercise caution and check the authenticity of any communication that appears to be from their bank. Consumers are encouraged to visit their bank’s official website directly by entering the URL in their browser instead of clicking on a link included in a message or email.
ICBC Asia’s full press release, including detailed instructions on how to deal with such phishing attempts, can be found on the HKMA’s official website. HKMA continues to work to protect consumers from cyber threats and promote safe banking practices.
Hong Kong Monetary Authority
May 28, 2024
Image source: Shutterstock
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