HKMA warns against fraudulent StanChart email

HKMA wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to an e-mail purporting to be sent from Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong Limited.

The e-mail requests customers to use an embedded hyperlink to connect to a fraudulent website--www.rumahbatik.com/na/standardchartered.htm--and verify their account information by entering their Internet banking account's user name and password.  The fraudulent website looks similar to the bank's Internet banking logon webpage.  Standard Chartered Bank has clarified that it has not sent these e-mails to its customers and has no connection with the fraudulent website.  In addition, Standard Chartered Bank does not have the policy of sending e-mails asking its customers to provide their passwords or verify their account information online.

Standard Chartered Bank has already reported the case to the Hong Kong Police Force for investigation. 

"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 an HKMA