Suspicious fraudulent website: www.swisscreditbank.com

Press Releases

31 Dec 2003

Suspicious fraudulent website: www.swisscreditbank.com

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a suspected fraudulent website with the domain name "www.swisscreditbank.com". The website is operated by an alleged "Bank of Swisscredit" which claims that it has a head office in Zurich and branches in Hong Kong and Canada, and offers various banking and investment services.

The public should be aware that the alleged "Bank of Swisscredit" 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 is under investigation by the Hong Kong Police Force. The HKMA has also referred the case to the Swiss bank regulator for further clarification. Anyone who has dealings with the alleged "Bank of Swisscredit" should contact any local Police Station or the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

Given the global nature of the Internet, members of the public are reminded to verify the status of any organisation making use of the Internet to solicit deposits from the public. They can check the status of any entity in Hong Kong which solicits deposits from the public with the HKMA by calling its public enquiry hotline 2878 8222.

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

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
31 December 2003

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Last revision date : 31 December 2003