***************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has received public enquiries about phone calls purportedly from HKMA staff asking for their personal information. The callers claimed that the information was required either to follow up on issues relating to the mortgage loans for their public housing or Home Ownership Scheme units or to make referrals to other lending entities.
The HKMA would like to alert the public that no phone calls are made by its staff to any member of the public in relation to such issues. Nor will they request the public to provide sensitive personal information (including personal identification numbers) via phone calls or emails. Members of the public must stay vigilant protecting their personal information at all times.
Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to these callers should immediately report to the Police or contact the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012 so that the Police may follow up and investigate the cases and help protect those affected from suffering potential financial losses as a result of disclosing such information.
Ends/Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:16
NNNN
