Suspected Fraudulent Website: www.obc-international.com

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a suspected fraudulent website with the domain name "www.obc-international.com". The website is operated by an alleged "Overseas Banking Corporation International", which claims that it has an office in Hong Kong and offers various banking services.

The public should be aware that the alleged entity is not authorized under the Banking Ordinance to carry on banking business or the business of taking deposits in Hong Kong, nor does it have the approval to establish a local representative office.

The case has been reported to the Hong Kong Police Force for further investigation. Anyone who has dealings with this suspected fraudulent website, or has provided his or her personal information to the website, or has conducted any financial transactions through the website should contact any local Police Station or the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012 or the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited's Hong Kong Branch at 2868 2086.

For further enquiries, please contact:
Jasmin Fung, Manager (Press), at 2878 8246 or
Kevin Ip, Manager (Press), at 2878 1687

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
13 July 2004