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    The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert people in Hong Kong to a suspected fraudulent website with the domain name "www.lonba.com".  The website is operated by an alleged "Banco Yong Feng", which claims that it offers various banking services to members of the public in Hong Kong.

    People should be aware that the alleged "Banco Yong Feng" is not authorised 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.  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, people are reminded to verify the status of any organisation making use of the Internet to solicit deposits from the public. A list of authorised institutions is available on the HKMA's website (www.hkma.gov.hk). People 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

Ends/Monday, August 22, 2005

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