Suspicious fraudulent website: www.facbltd.com

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a suspected fraudulent website with the domain name "www.facbltd.com". The website is operated by an alleged "First Atlantic Chartered Bank Limited" which claims that its head office is in the UK and it offers various banking services in Hong Kong, China and Singapore.

The public should be aware that the alleged "First Atlantic Chartered Bank Limited" 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 HKMA has verified with the UK financial regulator that "First Atlantic Chartered Bank Limited" is not registered with them in any capacity. The HKMA has already referred the case to the Hong Kong Police Force for further investigation and to take appropriate action in relation to the website. Anyone who has dealings with the alleged "First Atlantic Chartered Bank Limited" 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. A list of authorized institutions is available on the HKMA's website (www.hkma.gov.hk). Members of the public may also 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:
Kevin Ip, Manager (Press), at 2878 1687 or
Thomas Chan, Senior Manager (Press), at 2878 1480

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
21 January 2004