HKMA warns public against identity theft website

A website that steals the bank passwords of unwary users has claimed Hong Kong victims and must be avoided.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority advises the public not to click on the following embedded hyperlink: fitness-magazine.com/administrator/cache/cbc.html.

Doing so will allow identity thieves to access the user name and password of a victim’s Internet bank account. The hyperlink is contained in an email purportedly sent by China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Ltd that asks victims to verify their account information by entering their Internet banking account user name and password.

The fraudulent website looks similar to the bank's Internet banking logon webpage.

China Construction Bank says it has not sent these emails and does not have the policy of sending e-mails asking customers to provide their passwords or verify their account information online.

HKMA requests persons who have fallen victim to this identity theft scheme to contact China Construction Bank at 2779 5533 or the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

"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. If in doubt, they should contact their banks," said HKMA.