The Hong Kong Insurance Authority (IA) has issued several warnings this week regarding fraudulent emails and counterfeit websites designed to impersonate leading insurance providers operating in the city.
These schemes reportedly direct users to fraudulent platforms that solicit personal data and financial credentials.
The email addresses identified in the alerts include “info@prudential-hk[.]site,” “info@manuiife-hk[.]site,” “contact@h-k-ala[.]site,” and info@hkala[.]site.
Each message contained links to imitation websites, such as “hxxps://prudential-hk[.]site,” “manuiife-hk[.]site,” “hxxps://ala-og[.]site,” and “hxxps://ala-hk[.]site,” which appear to be configured to deceive recipients into providing sensitive information.
The insurers named in these phishing incidents have stated that they are not affiliated with the email addresses or websites.
All three cases have been submitted to the Hong Kong Police Force for investigation.
Individuals who may have interacted with the emails or websites, shared personal information, or conducted transactions are encouraged to contact the insurers directly.
The contact details are Prudential at 2281 1333, AIA at (852) 2232 8888, and Manulife at 2108 1188 or via email at [email protected].
The IA also advised residents to verify insurer credentials through its official Register of Authorized Insurers, which lists licensed entities and their contact information.
These alerts come as part of a broader response to growing cybersecurity threats in the financial services sector.
In 2024, the IA joined other regulators in rolling out the Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter 2.0, which aims to standardise anti-fraud protocols across financial institutions.
Under the charter, participants commit to several preventative measures. These include refraining from sending unsolicited emails with embedded data requests, integrating scam warnings into client communications, maintaining dedicated fraud inquiry channels, and enhancing staff training around scam detection.
As of April 2024, the IA reported that 73 licensed insurance firms and brokerage companies were among the 230 financial organisations that had signed onto the initiative.
The IA reiterated its guidance for consumers to be cautious when dealing with unfamiliar electronic messages, particularly those requesting sensitive or financial information.
