The Insurance Authority (IA) in Hong Kong has warned the public about a fake website and email domain pretending to be linked to the IA, issuing an alert on June 12.
The IA has received numerous inquiries from the public about dubious emails sent from the address “support@ia-org[.]com,” with the sender falsely claiming to be an IA employee.
A spokesperson for the IA clarified that their official email domain is “@ia.org.hk,” and their legitimate website is www.ia.org.hk. The fraudulent email address “support@ia-org[.]com” and the website “www[.]ia-org[.]com” are not affiliated with the IA.
Individuals who have shared personal information with the fraudulent website or email, or who suspect they may be victims of fraud, should report the incident to the Hong Kong Police Force.
During the same month, the IA issued a warning regarding a fake website, “https[:]//arvudainsurance[.]com,” and its related email domain, “@arvudainsurance.com.”
The IA advises caution, as these entities falsely claim to be associated with Arvuda Insurance Services Limited, a licensed insurance broker in Hong Kong.
Arvuda has stated that it does not operate an official website and has no ties to the fraudulent site or email domain.
Individuals who have shared personal information or conducted transactions through the fraudulent website or email should immediately contact Arvuda at [email protected] or (852) 2219 8282. They are also encouraged to report the incident to the Hong Kong Police Force.
For verified information on licensed insurance intermediaries in Hong Kong, the public can refer to the Register of Licensed Insurance Intermediaries available on the IA’s website.
The IA also recently alerted the public to an increase in fraudulent phone calls falsely claiming to be from the regulator. These calls often include pre-recorded messages instructing recipients to take actions related to their insurance policies.
The IA said that it does not use pre-recorded calls to communicate with the public, especially for requesting actions regarding insurance policies.
The IA advises caution when receiving unsolicited calls purportedly from official entities. For any insurance policy-related inquiries or concerns, individuals should directly contact their insurers.
The IA encourages anyone who believes they have been targeted by such scams to report the incident to the Hong Kong Police Force promptly. Reporting can help reduce the impact of these fraudulent activities and protect individuals from financial harm.
