Hong Kong, Dec 07: A Web site made to look like the Hong Kong home page of global banking giant HSBC Holdings Plc asked customers to type in their User ID and password, the bank said on Friday. The site, which was no longer accessible on Friday evening, is the latest in a string of bank-related scams to hit Hong Kong in recent months.

"The fraudulent Web site attempts to replicate the personal financial services pages of HSBC's Hong Kong Web site," HSBC said in a statement.

The portal's address, www.hkhsbc.com, was similar to that of HSBC's Hong Kong Web site, www.hsbc.com.hk.
Sporting "HSBC" and the bank's logo at the top, the site included a hyperlink to a logon page asking customers to type in their online banking User ID and password.

An HSBC spokeswoman told Reuters the bank had received no reports from customers of losses because of the site.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the territory's de facto central bank, and Hong Kong police were looking into the case.


"As the Web site is hosted overseas, the HSBC and the HKMA are liaising with the relevant overseas authorities to take appropriate action," an authority spokesman said, declining to reveal the host of the site.

It was not clear whether authorities had blocked the Web site or its owner had withdrawn it.

Bank frauds in the city in recent months have included fake Web sites and cash dispenser cards. Bureau Report