The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (29 June), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB), the launch of the Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter (Charter) to enhance public awareness of safeguarding credit card and personal information. The Charter has received the full support of major merchant institutions across different sectors, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Consumer Council.
Led by the HKMA and the HKAB, all 23 card issuing banks and 15 merchant institutions in Hong Kong (collectively referred to as Participating Institutions) participate in the Charter (please refer to Annex for the Charter and the list of Participating Institutions). Under the Charter, Participating Institutions commit not to send instant electronic messages (e.g. SMS, WhatsApp, WeChat, etc.) to customers with embedded hyperlinks to request for personal and credit card information online, and to convey the message of “Beware of scams” to the public through various channels. Participating Institutions also undertake to provide appropriate channels for customers to verify the authenticity of messages, and enhance staff training so as to fulfil the commitment of the Charter and handle customer enquiries effectively.
In addition to the commitment of implementing the four major principles in the Charter, Participating Institutions put forward the slogan "Beware of Fraudulent Links" to strengthen public education, and have exchanged views on the topic of combatting credit card scams. At the sharing session, representatives from Participating Institutions have discussed the current situation of credit card frauds, ways to enhance alertness of the public of credit card scams, and best practices adopted by card issuing banks and merchants to guard against credit card scams. Participating Institutions have also taken the opportunity to remind the public to stay alert to protect their personal and credit card information (including One-Time Passwords); to ensure credit card transactions are processed through the official websites or mobile applications (apps) of banks and merchants (e.g. by directly entering the merchant’s website address or downloading official apps from official channels); to carefully verify the identity of the sender when receiving instant electronic messages from any merchants requesting for personal or credit card information, etc.
Mr Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the HKMA, said, “The HKMA is pleased to receive strong support from the HKAB and various sectors. By joining hands with Hong Kong’s card issuing banks, merchants, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Consumer Council, the HKMA strives to heighten the awareness of the public on safeguarding credit card information, and strengthen the combat against credit card scams to offer better protection to the public in Hong Kong.”
Annex
Hong Kong Monetary Authority
29 June 2023
Mr Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, gives opening remarks at the Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter event, introducing the key principles in the Charter.
Mr Sun Yu, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Banks and Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong), delivers a speech at the Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter event, sharing the measures taken by the banking industry to enhance credit card customer protection.
During the Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter event, Mr Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (eighth from left); Mr Sun Yu, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Banks and Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) (ninth from left); and representatives from merchant institutions place the logos of their respective institutions into the shield, symbolising the joint efforts of stakeholders from different sectors using various channels to help the public guard against credit card scams.
Mr Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (sixth from left, front row); Mr Sun Yu, Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Banks and Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) (fifth from left, front row); Mr Keith Yip, Director of Crime and Security of the Hong Kong Police Force (sixth from right, front row); Ms Vera Tam, Principal Planning and Trade Practices Officer of the Consumer Council (first from right, front row); and representatives from merchant institutions and card issuing banks participate in the Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter event.
Mr Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (fourth from left); Ms Jelly Zhou, Chief Executive Officer (Hong Kong) of Hong Kong Technology Venture Company Limited (third from left); Mr Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) (second from left); and Mr Kenneth Wu, Senior Director of Business Development of the Hongkong Post (first from left) share their experience and insight on the prevention of credit card scams at sharing session of the Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter event.
