The Monetary Authority warns consumers to beware of fraudulent website www.abnfs.com, operated by an alleged "ABN Finance & Securities" which claims it offers banking services to Hong Kong people.

The entity is not authorised to conduct banking business or to take deposits in Hong Kong, nor does it have the approval to establish a local representative office.

The case has been reported to Police, and anyone who has provided personal information to the site or who has conducted financial transactions through it should call investigators on 2860 5012.

3 companies posted on SFC alert list

Meanwhile, the Securities & Futures Commission has posted three companies on its alert list - Lloyds & Barclays; Sterling Futures Management; and, Washington Mutual Bank. The latter claims to represent Washington Mutual Bank, a subsidiary of Washington Mutual.

It sends emails acknowledging notification for mailing address changes and advises recipients to use an attached link to logon to their online accounts to verify their mailing addresses by entering their ATM, Visa, Check Card numbers and passwords.

The commission said most of the unlicensed companies either represent themselves as having operations in Hong Kong by using the address of a mail-forwarding facility or settle their transactions through a bank account in Hong Kong, when in fact they do not have any actual operations in the city.

Alternatively, they can operate from overseas and contact potential investors in Hong Kong whilst not having been licensed in Hong Kong. While some of them may be boiler room operations, others may merely have failed to comply with licensing requirements.

Investors should exercise extreme caution when dealing with companies that are not licensed in any jurisdiction.