High Risk Alerts Now Fully Cover
Expansion of Suspicious Account Alert for Automated Teller Machine transactions
The Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) have announced that from 8 December 2024, the Suspicious Account Alert mechanism will be progressively extended to transactions at participating banks‘ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), including cash deposit machines. This will cover intra-bank and inter-bank real-time transfers as well as cash deposits. When members of the public conduct transactions at bank branches, ATMs or through online banking, if the recipient’s account number, mobile phone number, email address or Faster Payment System (FPS) Identifier matches information flagged as high-risk in the Police’s Scameter, they will receive an alert warning of potential fraud risks.
The high-risk alert mechanism was first introduced in November 2023, initially covering transactions using FPS proxy IDs and was expanded in August 2024 to include internet banking and branch transfers. When high-risk transactions are detected, the system issues alerts reminding customers to cancel them.
The Police advise the public to verify payment details and the recipient’s identity before completing any transaction. If in doubt, they should terminate the transaction immediately. The Police will continue to collaborate with the HKMA and the banking industry to strengthen anti-fraud measures and combat scams.High Risk Transaction Alert
When making transactions, if the recipient’s bank account number, SVF account number, or FPS proxy ID:
Bank account number
SVF account number
FPS proxy ID:
Phone Number
Email address
FPS identification code
is associated with fraud reports, i.e. marked as “High Risk” in the Scameter, the public will receive the following “High Risk Alert” on the transaction confirmation page:
If members of the public see the “High Risk Alert” during transactions, they should immediately stop the transfer to avoid potential fraud.
Source of “High Risk Alert” Data
Bank account numbers, SVF account numbers and FPS proxy IDs labelled “High Risk” are derived from confirmed criminal reports made by the public to the police. The Scameter database updates this information periodically throughout the day on the FPS, major retail banks and SVF platforms to ensure timely alerts for the public.
No Alert = Absolute Safety?
The absence of “High Risk Alert” does not guarantee a safe transaction. It simply indicates that no related reports exist for that recipient account or FPS proxy ID. The public should always remain vigilant and aware of potential scams before making any transactions.
