Two banks in Hong Kong warn against phishing emails

Tai Sang Bank cautioned against emails claiming to be from its chairman.

Two banks in Hong Kong have separately warned of phishing emails between 21 and 22 May.

Bank of China (Hong Kong) and Tai Sang Bank both cautioned customers against two emails claiming to be from the bank.

Bank of China (Hong Kong) said that it has no connection with the email address lochikin @ bcohk. Com.

Tai Sang Bank, meanwhile, warned against emails claiming to be from “Patrick Ma, the Chairman of Tai Sang Bank.” These emails further indicated that they have a business proposal for the recipients.

The fraudulent email accounts pma@taisanghk.com and PatrickMa_ taisangbank_ hongkong@mail.com have also been reported used by those unknown parties. 

“We, Tai Sang Bank Limited, wish to alert members of the public that the bank and its senior executives have never issued the aforementioned emails and that we are not engaged in such business introduction,” the city’s smallest bank said in a statement posted on the website of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).

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Both BOCHK and Tai Sang Bank have reported these cases to the local police.

HKMA also reminded the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks that direct them to websites to carry out transactions.

“[The banks] will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or One-Time Password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks),” the HKMA stated.