The latest modus operandi of financial crimes and anti-scam alerts
Say No To Money Laundering. Neither Sell nor Lend Your Bank Account
- Criminal syndicates would offer various advantages to lure you into disclosing personal credentials, or selling or lending your bank accounts. Upon taking control of your bank accounts, they may use these "stooge accounts" to receive/ launder fraudulent payments or other crime proceeds
- If you identify any suspicious activities, please contact the bank or the police immediately
- Selling or lending your bank accounts to others for unlawful purposes may expose yourselves to the risk of committing money laundering offence of which the maximum penalty is a fine of HK$5 million and imprisonment for 14 years
Beware of Loan Scammers Impersonating Local Bank Staff
- Recently, general public have received suspicious instant messages or phone calls by fraudsters impersonating local bank staff claiming to offer loans at low interest rates and lured the victims into providing their personal credentials.
- Subsequently, the fraudsters arranged to meet the victims at fake law firms or other public places and lured them into paying guarantee fees by cash or by depositing a sum of money into a designated bank account for loan applications, or asked them to apply for loans at other finance companies, and such staff could no longer be reached afterwards
- If you receive calls or instant messages purportedly from banks, contact corresponding banks for verification proactively
- Bank staff would never refer customers to law firms to complete loan applications, or to other finance companies to apply for loans or sign any documents. Nor would they ask customers to complete loan applications or sign contracts at places other than at bank branches
- Do not disclose your personal information to strangers
- Remind your friends and relatives to beware of being deceived
- If in doubt, please contact the bank and the police immediately