The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the Insurance Authority (IA), and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) have jointly launched the Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter 3.0.

This initiative builds on earlier versions introduced in 2023 and 2024 and expands collaboration between financial regulators, telecommunications providers, and technology platforms to address rising financial fraud and scams in Hong Kong.

It formalises a non-legally binding commitment by participating institutions to adopt a set of principles aimed at identifying and reducing online scams targeting consumers.

The Charter introduces six key principles that institutions are encouraged to follow:

• User Reporting Tools – Provide users with channels to report suspected scams.
• Regulator Reporting Access – Establish direct channels for regulators to report and follow up on scams.
• Advertiser Checks – Implement risk-based verification of advertisers.
• Internal Monitoring – Maintain systems to monitor financial-related content and ads.
• Policy Enforcement – Detect and remove content that violates platform rules.
• Public Awareness Collaboration – Work with regulators to promote anti-scam education.

Each organisation will apply the relevant principles based on its business model. Participation is voluntary, and the commitments are not legally enforceable.

Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the HKMA, said,

“The fight against financial fraud and scams and to protect the public requires a united front, bringing together the public and private sectors, as well as the community at large. The Charter 3.0 represents a significant milestone in this endeavour, harnessing the collective strength of the financial, technology, and telecommunications industries to better safeguard the public.”

Julia Leung, Chief Executive Officer of the SFC, said,

“Charter 3.0 is a meaningful step forward, bringing in major technology and telecommunications companies to join the fight against online scams. It is our shared responsibility to disrupt these threats at their source.”

Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Hong Kong, based on image by user26823545 via Freepik