First published: 25th August 2014
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has warned about a fake email supposedly from The Bank of East Asia, Limited (BEA). The e-mail requests customers to follow a link and provide personal information. The target of one such link, "http://malaucene.fr/wp-includes/pomo/Servize-iTunes/app/registre/", had been removed at the time of writing. BEA did not send the emails, and the Police are investigating.
Victims who have provided personal information or conducted financial transactions through the website should contact BEA at 2211 1333 and any local police station or the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
A HKMA spokesperson advised, "Members of the public are reminded not to access their Internet banking accounts through hyperlinks embedded in e-mails, Internet search engines or suspicious pop-up windows. Instead, they should access their Internet banking accounts by typing the website addresses at the address bar of the browser, or by bookmarking the genuine website and using that for access. In addition, banks are not expected to send e-mails asking their customers to provide their account information (e.g. Internet banking logon passwords) or verify their account information online. If in doubt, they should contact their banks."