Suspected fraudulent website: www.asiacenturyhongkong.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.asiacenturyhongkong.com". The website is
operated by an alleged "Asiacentury Bank", which claims that it
offers various banking services to members of the public in Hong
Kong.

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 HKMA has referred the case to the Hong Kong Police Force for
further investigation and appropriate action. Anyone who 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.

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
27 November 2004