The HKMA, together with the police and the Banking Association, announced that 32 banks and 10 stored value payment operators have expanded the scope of "suspicious account alert" since yesterday(4th), covering online banking and counter transfers to strengthen customer protection and respond to increasing fraud risk.

When the "suspicious account alert" mechanism was launched last year, it covered fund transfers using the FPS identification code, including mobile phone number, email address, and FPS identification code. As of the end of June this year, more than 0.655 million alerts had been issued, with an average of 3,000 per day. Since yesterday, the alert mechanism has been extended to include immediate transfers within and across banks using personal customers' bank account numbers at bank branches or by HKID number, and stored value payment operators will also implement similar alert services.