Phishing scams targeting insurance policyholders in Hong Kong show no signs of abating, with fraudsters employing deceptive mobile text messages to extract sensitive information.
The Hong Kong Insurance Authority (IA) has issued a fresh warning about these schemes, highlighting recent cases involving unauthorised use of insurers’ names.
In its latest alert, the IA detailed a scam in which fraudulent messages impersonated Prudential Hong Kong Limited. The messages instructed recipients to call a phone number under the pretext of cancelling an insurance policy.
Prudential has denied any association with the texts and reported the incident to the Hong Kong Police Force. The company advised those who may have shared personal or payment information to contact its hotline at 2281-1333 and notify the police immediately.
The IA’s recent advisory follows a pattern of phishing incidents reported in Hong Kong’s insurance sector.
On Jan. 10, the regulator flagged similar schemes, including one involving messages that falsely claimed to originate from FWD Life Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited. In these cases, scammers attempted to deceive recipients into sharing personal details by citing alleged premium renewals.
FWD has confirmed that it is not connected to these fraudulent messages and urged affected individuals to report the cases to its hotline at 3123-3123 and to law enforcement.
Other insurers have also been targeted. On Jan. 3, phishing messages impersonating Bowtie Life Insurance Company Limited surfaced, directing recipients to contact suspicious phone numbers regarding purported insurance issues. Bowtie has stated that it has no involvement in these schemes and has referred the incidents to the authorities.
Both companies denied any association with the fraudulent communications and advised consumers to reach out to their customer service teams and notify the police if affected.
The IA has reiterated the importance of verifying all communications related to insurance policies through official channels. Consumers are encouraged to use the IA’s online Register of Authorized Insurers to confirm the authenticity of insurance providers.
The regulator has also urged the public to avoid interacting with suspicious messages, refrain from sharing sensitive information, and report suspected scams to the police and the relevant insurer.
With phishing scams continuing to target the financial services sector, the IA has emphasised the need for vigilance and cooperation among regulators, insurers, and law enforcement to protect consumers and reduce risks.
