The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public in Hong Kong to a suspected fraudulent website with the domain name http://1stgulfb.com/. First Gulf Bank HK as referred to in the website is not authorised by the Monetary Authority (MA) under the Banking Ordinance (the Ordinance) to carry on banking business or the business of taking deposits in Hong Kong, nor does it have the approval of the MA to establish a local representative office in Hong Kong.
Given the global nature of the Internet, members of the public are reminded to verify the status of any organization making use of the Internet to offer bank accounts to, or to solicit deposits from the public in Hong Kong, prior to transferring any funds to or providing any personal information to any such organization.
A list of institutions which are authorised by the MA under the Ordinance to take deposits or carry on banking business in Hong Kong is available on the HKMA's website (www.hkma.gov.hk). Members of the public may also check the status of any entity which appears to be soliciting deposits from the public in Hong Kong, or holding itself out as a bank or deposit-taking company in Hong Kong, by emailing the HKMA's public enquiry service (publicenquiry@hkma.gov.hk).
Anyone who has transferred monies or conducted any financial transaction, or who has provided any personal information, in response to or via the website should contact the Police at any local Police Station or the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
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