Expansion of Suspicious Account Alert for automated teller machine transactions
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Police Force (the Police) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB), announced today (December 5) the expansion of the Suspicious Account Alert to include transactions at automated teller machines (ATMs) (including cash deposit machines). Starting from December 8, 2024, 22 participating banks (see the list at Annex) will gradually implement the alert mechanism at their ATMs, and provide their customers with detailed information on the implementation.
The scope of the Suspicious Account Alert mechanism, which is expanded to include transfers conducted at ATMs (including real-time same bank transfers and inter-bank transfers, as well as cash deposits), will cover the majority of the public's day-to-day transfers. Whenever a customer conducts a funds transfer or cash deposit at a bank branch or an ATM, or via online banking, if the recipient's account number, mobile phone number, email address or Faster Payment System (FPS) Identifier is labelled as "High Risk" in the Police's Scameter, a scam and pitfall search engine, the customer will receive an alert to the associated fraud risk before confirming the transaction.
The alert mechanism was first introduced in November last year, with the first phase covering funds transfers using FPS proxy IDs. The alert mechanism was further expanded in August this year to cover internet banking and physical branch transactions. When customers initiate a bank transfer, banks will issue high risk alerts to customers based on data from the Scameter. In the third quarter of this year, banks issued over 24 000 alerts (Note), which reminded customers not to proceed with the high-risk transactions in a timely manner.
The HKMA reminds the public to carefully verify the payment details and the payee's identity before proceeding with a transaction. If in doubt, the public should immediately terminate the transaction. The HKMA will continue to work closely with the Police and the banking industry to assess the effectiveness of anti-fraud measures and actively combat digital scams.
Note: Based on data provided by the 35 participating banks (which offer FPS, internet banking and physical branch services) of the Suspicious Account Alert mechanism.
Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival Gala Night to be held at Hong Kong Cultural Centre tomorrow to celebrate spring lantern festival with public
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department is now holding the Chinese New Year Lantern Display and the Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) to celebrate the spring lantern festival. The Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival Gala Night will be held tomorrow (February 12) from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, featuring a series of fabulous performances and activities. Members of the public are invited to join for free.
One of the highlights will be performances by the Guizhou Performance and Arts Group to showcase the diversity of Guizhou's culture and customs. There will be ethnic songs and dances of the Miao, Bouyei and Dong ethnic groups, as well as acrobatic performances and more. In addition, a "Diverse Guizhou" intangible cultural heritage market will display intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, silver jewelry and wax dyeing items, and a "Secret Views of Guizhou" photo exhibition will show humanistic, ecological and other aspects of Guizhou. Other performances and activities of the Gala Night include a cappella and break dance performances by local groups, and the popular lantern riddles.
The HKCC piazza is now lit up with dazzling lanterns to create a joyful ambience. Animal-shaped lanterns such as pandas, peacocks, meerkats and squirrels are on display. Another focus is a 6-metre ornate palace lantern adorned with peonies and magpies surrounded by sky lanterns, carp fish and lotus flower lanterns, and an exquisite "Glittering Fish・Lanterns with Abundant Blessings" lantern display made by local paper-crafting master Mo Cheuk Kei based on the style of traditional Chinese New Year paintings. The lanterns are illuminated from 6pm to 11pm.
Both the Chinese New Year Lantern Display and the Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival are part of the activities of the Spring Festival Gala 2025. For details about stage performances and activities, please refer to the event webpage at: www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/cpo/lanterncarnival.html.
Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival Gala Night to be held at Hong Kong Cultural Centre tomorrow to celebrate spring lantern festival with public Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival Gala Night to be held at Hong Kong Cultural Centre tomorrow to celebrate spring lantern festival with public Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival Gala Night to be held at Hong Kong Cultural Centre tomorrow to celebrate spring lantern festival with public Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival Gala Night to be held at Hong Kong Cultural Centre tomorrow to celebrate spring lantern festival with public Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival Gala Night to be held at Hong Kong Cultural Centre tomorrow to celebrate spring lantern festival with public Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival Gala Night to be held at Hong Kong Cultural Centre tomorrow to celebrate spring lantern festival with public Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases