The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (June 29), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB), the launch of the Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter (Charter) to enhance public awareness of safeguarding credit card and personal information. The Charter has received the full support of major merchant institutions across different sectors, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Consumer Council.
      
     Led by the HKMA and the HKAB, all 23 card issuing banks and 15 merchant institutions in Hong Kong (collectively referred to as Participating Institutions) participate in the Charter (please refer to Annex for the Charter and the list of Participating Institutions). Under the Charter, Participating Institutions commit not to send instant electronic messages (e.g. SMS, WhatsApp, WeChat, etc.) to customers with embedded hyperlinks to request for personal and credit card information online, and to convey the message of "Beware of scams" to the public through various channels. Participating Institutions also undertake to provide appropriate channels for customers to verify the authenticity of messages, and enhance staff training so as to fulfil the commitment of the Charter and handle customer enquiries effectively.
      
     In addition to the commitment of implementing the four major principles in the Charter, Participating Institutions put forward the slogan "Beware of Fraudulent Links" to strengthen public education, and have exchanged views on the topic of combatting credit card scams. At the sharing session, representatives from Participating Institutions have discussed the current situation of credit card frauds, ways to enhance alertness of the public of credit card scams, and best practices adopted by card issuing banks and merchants to guard against credit card scams. Participating Institutions have also taken the opportunity to remind the public to stay alert to protect their personal and credit card information (including one-time passwords); to ensure credit card transactions are processed through the official websites or mobile applications (apps) of banks and merchants (e.g. by directly entering the merchant's website address or downloading official apps from official channels); to carefully verify the identity of the sender when receiving instant electronic messages from any merchants requesting for personal or credit card information, etc.
      
     The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, "The HKMA is pleased to receive strong support from the HKAB and various sectors. By joining hands with Hong Kong's card issuing banks, merchants, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Consumer Council, the HKMA strives to heighten the awareness of the public on safeguarding credit card information, and strengthen the combat against credit card scams to offer better protection to the public in Hong Kong."

Ends/Thursday, June 29, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:16

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