Public told to beware of online bank

People should avoid a website claiming to be operated by the International Chinese Switzerland Bank Corporation, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said yesterday.

The warning was issued after police discovered the suspected fraudulent website www.icsbc.com was offering banking services without the authority to do so.

'The public should be aware that the alleged [bank] is not authorised under the Banking Ordinance to carry out banking business or the business of taking deposits in Hong Kong,' said the HKMA. 'Nor does it have approval to establish a local representative office.'

The police at present have no idea as to how many people may have fallen victim to the scam and have yet to receive reports from affected people.

Anyone who gave their personal information to the website or used it for any financial transactions should contact their local police station or call the Commercial Crime Bureau at 2860 5012.

This month, the HKMA has found six fraudulent banking websites. Last week alone, the authority exposed three: www.swissfirston line.com operated by Swissfirst Asia, www.ltoffshore.com - which looks similar to the official website for the Hong Kong branch of Lloyds TSB Bank plc - and www.lonba. com allegedly operated by a Banco Yong Feng.

To check the legal status of a financial website, the public can call the HKMA at 2878 8222 or visit its website at www.hkma.gov.hk.