The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has issued a public warning about impersonation scams in which fraudsters pose as SFC senior executives and well-known stock commentators, using phishing emails and counterfeit documents purportedly from the SFC to target licensed corporations, their staff and investors. Reported cases include emails impersonating the SFC’s Executive Director of Enforcement, Christopher Wilson, that prompt recipients to reply or click embedded links intended to install malware or ransomware, and messages posing as the SFC’s Chief Financial Officer, Andrew Wan, seeking recipients’ contact details under the guise of a “data reconciliation process”. The scams use fraudulent email domains that closely resemble the SFC’s official domain, and separate incidents involved fabricated SFC documents circulated to investors, resulting in financial losses that might be linked to market manipulation in some instances. The SFC stressed that the messages and claims are fraudulent, reminded recipients that its official email domain is @sfc.hk, and urged the public not to engage with unsolicited communications, not to disclose account details or send money based on such approaches, and to report suspected impersonation and suspicious communications to the SFC or the Police.
Hong Kong Securities & Futures Commission 2025-08-20
Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission warns public about phishing and fake-document impersonation scams using lookalike email domains
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) warns of impersonation scams with fraudsters posing as SFC senior executives and stock commentators. These scams use phishing emails and counterfeit documents to target licensed corporations, their staff, and investors, risking financial losses. The SFC advises avoiding unsolicited communications and reporting suspicious activities to the SFC or Police.