Heighten Vigilance against Phishing Attacks

2021-07-08

To heighten public vigilance against phishing attacks, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks have jointly disseminated messages on the theme “Protect your Personal Digital Keys; Beware of Fraudulent Links!” to inform the public of the importance of safeguarding personal data in order to keep phishing frauds at bay. Two key points are as follows:

1. Internet banking login credentials, including usernames, login passwords and one-time passwords (OTPs), are as important as the keys to their houses are in the physical world, and should be properly safeguarded; and
2. In accordance with the HKMA’s supervisory requirements, banks will not send SMS or email messages with embedded hyperlinks directing customers to their websites or mobile applications to carry out transactions. Nor will they ask customers to provide sensitive personal information, including login passwords and OTPs, via hyperlinks. So if members of the public receive SMS or email messages with embedded hyperlinks requesting them to input internet banking login credentials, these messages should not be originated from banks. The public should think twice before clicking any hyperlinks purportedly sent by banks.