HKICL warns fake FPS "Buyer Online Protection" site fpshk.asia directs users to bogus customer service
HKICL warned in a Hong Kong Monetary Authority alert on 3 November 2026 that fpshk.asia is a fake site posing as an FPS “Buyer Online Protection” service. It says the site passes users to a fraudster posing as customer service.
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Source: hkma.gov.hk · published
What happened
On 3 November 2026 the Hong Kong Monetary Authority published a scam alert in which Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited (HKICL) warned of a fraudulent website at fpshk.asia purporting to be from HKICL. HKICL says the site has no affiliation with it or any of its businesses. HKICL has flagged other fake sites using the same “Buyer Online Protection” theme before.
How the scam works
HKICL says the fake website presents itself as “Buyer Online Protection” and offers three services: refunds to buyers, reporting of unauthorised online transactions and support for online transactions made over the Faster Payment System (FPS). It also says the site directs users to a fraudster posing as customer service staff. HKICL does not say how people reach the site, so the lure may be an advert, a message after an online purchase or a search result. The alert does not say whether anyone has lost money.
The idea of the fake service is that someone who believes a payment was wrong, or who has been caught in an online shopping scam, may look for a way to get the money back. The site offers exactly that, then passes them to a person pretending to be an official. In similar scams the person asks for bank details, one-time passwords or fees, or tells the victim to move money to a safe account. The HKICL alert does not describe such requests, so that part is background rather than a finding.
HKICL states that it will not directly provide FPS services to individual members of the public or contact individuals proactively under usual circumstances. Its genuine websites are hkicl.com.hk and fps.hkicl.com.hk. HKICL asks anyone who is unsure to call its general line on 2533 1111 and anyone who thinks they have been defrauded to report it to the Police.
Source
Hong Kong Monetary Authority, scam alert “HKICL alerts public of fraudulent website”, 3 November 2026 (statement by Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited).
Red flags
- A website at fpshk.asia that claims to be from HKICL.
- A so-called “Buyer Online Protection” service offering refunds, which HKICL does not provide to the public.
- A site that passes visitors to a person posing as customer service staff.
- An FPS service that HKICL says it does not run directly for individuals.
- A web address ending .asia instead of HKICL's hkicl.com.hk.
If you were targeted
- 1Do not use fpshk.asia or give anyone personal or banking details through it.
- 2Use only hkicl.com.hk and fps.hkicl.com.hk for HKICL information.
- 3Remember that HKICL will not usually contact individuals or offer FPS services to the public.
- 4Verify any suspect contact by calling HKICL on 2533 1111, using the number on its official site.
- 5If you paid or shared details, contact your bank straight away and report it to the Hong Kong Police.