HKICL warns fake FPS 'Buyer Online Protection' sites monetaryauthorityhk.sbs and systemfps.xyz
The Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited (HKICL), in a notice carried by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's scam alerts on 20 October 2026, warned of fraudulent websites claiming to offer a Faster Payment System (FPS)…
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Source: hkma.gov.hk · published
What happened
The Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited (HKICL), in a notice carried by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's scam alerts on 20 October 2026, warned of fraudulent websites claiming to offer a Faster Payment System (FPS) 'Buyer Online Protection' service. The websites named are monetaryauthorityhk.sbs (for example a page at monetaryauthorityhk.sbs/page/place_an_order/?uuid=refund) and systemfps.xyz. According to HKICL, the sites claim to provide refunds to buyers, reporting of unauthorised transactions and transaction support, ask users for their identity card numbers, identity card photos, phone numbers and bank account details, and direct them to a fake customer service agent. HKICL says it has no connection with these websites and that its official websites are hkicl.com.hk and fps.hkicl.com.hk.
How the scam works
According to HKICL, the sites imitate a 'Buyer Online Protection' service for payments made over FPS, Hong Kong's Faster Payment System. They claim to offer refunds to buyers, reporting of unauthorised online transactions and transaction support. To claim a supposed cash reward, users are asked for an identity document number and ID photo together with a phone number for 'real name verification'. The sites also ask for a bank name, account number and account holder's name, supposedly to top up and withdraw money from a virtual wallet on the platform, and then pass the user to a fraudster posing as customer service.
HKICL warns that the fraudulent links may have many different endings, for example a path such as /page/place_an_order/?uuid=refund. It says it does not provide FPS services directly to individual members of the public and does not normally contact individuals proactively, so a message or site offering FPS 'protection' or refunds on its behalf should be treated as suspicious. Anyone who receives a suspicious communication claiming to be from HKICL can verify it by calling HKICL's general line on 2533 1111, and anyone who thinks they have been defrauded should report it to the police promptly. The name 'monetaryauthorityhk' also borrows the identity of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which is not involved.
Source
Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited, "HKICL alerts public of fraudulent websites", HKMA Scam Alert (published 20 October 2026).
Red flags
- A website offering FPS 'buyer protection', refunds or transaction support.
- Requests for your ID number, ID photo, phone number and bank account details.
- A 'cash reward' for completing real-name verification.
- A virtual wallet you are told to top up before withdrawing money.
- Web addresses that aren't hkicl.com.hk or fps.hkicl.com.hk.
If you were targeted
- 1Don't enter personal or bank details on these sites.
- 2Use only HKICL's official sites, hkicl.com.hk and fps.hkicl.com.hk.
- 3Verify any contact claiming to be from HKICL by calling 2533 1111.
- 4If you shared bank details, contact your bank immediately.
- 5Report it to the Hong Kong Police; the Anti-Deception Coordination Centre hotline is 18222.