Extension of “SMS Sender Registration Scheme” to Banking Industry
(22nd January 2024) The Hong Kong Association of Banks is pleased to announce that with the support of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Hong Kong Police Force, the Office of the Communication Authority (OFCA) and the telecommunications industry, the “SMS Sender Registration Scheme” (“The Scheme”) will be extended to the banking industry for transmission and delivery of trusted SMS from Registered Senders.
Starting from 28 January 2024, 28 retail and virtual banks in Hong Kong will use "Registered SMS Sender IDs" with the prefix "#" to send SMS messages to local subscribers of mobile services. This will help members of the public verify the identities of SMS senders, and prevent fraudsters from sending scam SMS messages masquerading as banks. Members of the public may refer to the Annex for the list of the first batch of participating banks. For other general information about the scheme, please visit OFCA's website (www.ofca.gov.hk/ssrs).
Luanne Lim, Chairman of the HKAB, said, “The HKAB welcomes the SMS Sender Registration Scheme, which will help combat malicious spoof messages. By utilizing the registered SMS sender IDs, participating banks can strengthen client protection against fraudulent SMS messages. In the face of ever-evolving scam tactics, the banking industry will continue to collaborate closely with relevant parties to combat frauds through technological advancements and customer education.”
Under the Scheme, SMS messages with sender IDs containing "#" but not sent by Registered Senders will be screened out by the telecommunications networks. Subscribers of mobile services are not required to apply for the service, install any mobile apps or change their handset settings. The Scheme is not applicable to:
- SMS messages of which receiving parties are expected to reply to the senders via phone numbers; or
- Local subscribers of Single-Card-Multiple-Numbers/One-Card-Two-Numbers mobile service provided by non-Hong Kong operators.
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List of the first batch of participating banks in the scheme