E-mails linking to a fraudulent website

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members
of the public in Hong Kong to some e-mails purporting to be sent
from Hang Seng Bank Limited (HASE). These e-mails contain a
hyperlink connecting to a fraudulent website requesting customers
to reactivate their accounts by entering their internet banking
user names and passwords. This fraudulent website appears to be
identical to HASE's Personal Internet Banking website. HASE has
issued a press release today to clarify that it has not sent these
e-mails to its customers and will never send e-mails asking its
customers to provide their passwords or verify their accounts
online.

HASE has already reported the case to the Hong Kong Police Force
for investigation. Anyone who has revealed his or her personal
information and passwords on the fraudulent website should contact
HASE at 2822 0228, and any local Police Station or the Commercial
Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

"Members of the public are reminded that they should not access
banks' e-banking websites through hyperlinks embedded in e-mails.
If in doubt, they should contact their banks." said an HKMA
spokesperson.

For further enquiries, please contact:
Jasmin Fung, Manager (Press), at 2878 8246 or
Thomas Chan, Senior Manager (Press), at 2878 1480

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
18 March 2004