Ted Hisokawa
Jan 27, 2026 04:02
Hong Kong regulators announce joint financial institution examinations concentrating on anti-fraud methods after HK$6.4 billion in losses from 35,831 deception circumstances in 2025.
Hong Kong’s central financial institution and privateness regulator are becoming a member of forces to crack down on banking fraud, asserting joint examinations of chosen banks’ anti-fraud controls following a surge in monetary crimes that value victims HK$6.4 billion within the first ten months of 2025.
The Hong Kong Financial Authority (HKMA) and the Workplace of the Privateness Commissioner for Private Information (PCPD) revealed the collaboration on January 27, marking what officers known as a “vital milestone” in defending the banking system from fraudulent abuse.
What the Joint Examinations Will Goal
Beneath the brand new association, regulators will conduct risk-based examinations of banks with distinct however complementary focuses. The HKMA will assess whether or not establishments have correctly applied anti-fraud measures outlined in circulars from December 2024 and April 2025. In the meantime, the PCPD will scrutinize knowledge safety measures and entry controls designed to stop buyer info from being leaked or misused.
The numbers driving this motion are stark: 35,831 deception circumstances have been reported in Hong Kong throughout the first ten months of 2025 alone.
Broader Regulatory Push
This collaboration builds on measures the HKMA launched in April 2025, which included expanded use of Scameter knowledge for fraud detection, amendments to the Banking Ordinance enabling info sharing between banks, and thematic opinions of anti-fraud effectiveness.
“Anti-fraud work has been a precedence for the HKMA because it helps to uphold public confidence within the monetary system of Hong Kong,” mentioned Eddie Yue, the authority’s Chief Government.
Privateness Commissioner Ada Chung emphasised the quantity of non-public knowledge flowing by means of banks each day. “It’s crucial for the banking business to undertake stringent knowledge safety and monitoring measures to stop unauthorised or unintended entry or misuse of consumers’ private knowledge,” she mentioned.
Public Training Part
Past examinations, the regulators plan joint publicity campaigns with the Hong Kong Police Power and banking business teams. These will goal particular demographic segments with warnings about evolving rip-off ways—notably round defending checking account credentials and login info.
The PCPD has operated a devoted fraud prevention hotline (3423 6611) since 2022 and lately distributed anti-fraud supplies by means of district workplaces, group facilities, aged facilities, and faculties.
For Hong Kong’s banking sector, the message is obvious: regulators are coordinating their oversight, and establishments ought to count on elevated scrutiny of each their fraud prevention methods and knowledge safety practices within the months forward.
Picture supply: Shutterstock
