The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued a public alert on July 20, 2026, warning residents of coordinated phishing and fraud campaigns targeting customers of seven major Hong Kong banks. The scams involve fraudulent websites and fake internet banking login screens designed to harvest customer credentials and sensitive financial information.
- Affected Banks: The Bank of East Asia Limited, Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited, Chong Hing Bank Limited, Chiyu Banking Corporation Limited, OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, China CITIC Bank International Limited, and Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd.
- Primary Scam Methods: Fraudulent websites, fake internet banking login screens, and phishing emails
- Alert Date: July 20, 2026
- Contact for Victims: Hong Kong Police Force Crime Wing Information Centre at 2860 5012
The HKMA emphasized that legitimate banks never request sensitive information through unsolicited communications. The regulator cautioned customers that banks will not send SMS messages or emails containing embedded hyperlinks directing users to banking websites for transactions, nor will they solicit login passwords or One-Time Passwords via phone, email, or text message.
Customers who suspect they may be victims of these scams or who have inadvertently disclosed personal information or conducted unauthorized transactions are instructed to contact their respective bank immediately using contact details from official press releases published on the HKMA website. The HKMA has provided hyperlinks to individual bank alerts on its official website for public reference.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority serves as Hong Kong’s central banking institution and financial regulator, responsible for monetary stability, banking system supervision, and consumer protection.
