HSBC launches anti-scam alliance for elderly customers
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
HSBC Hong Kong has rolled out a community education initiative called the Anti-Scam Alliance in partnership with Caritas Hong Kong and local social enterprise Elderly Services to raise anti-fraud awareness among senior citizens and improve understanding of dementia. The first event was held yesterday and drew 100 elderly participants. HSBC said that, by value, more than one-fifth of scam cases recorded by the bank in the first half of this year, or 22%, involved elderly people. The bank added that more elder-friendly measures, including branch facility upgrades and fee concessions, will be announced later this year in line with the Elder-Friendly Banking Services Guideline.
Key Points
- HSBC said the Anti-Scam Alliance is one of its measures to strengthen elder-friendly and dementia-friendly banking services in Hong Kong.
- The programme is being run with Caritas Hong Kong and local social enterprise 歷耆者, which helped compile and share anti-fraud fables.
- HSBC volunteers used scenario-based case studies to help older participants identify common scam tactics in everyday situations.
- The project is expected to benefit more than 500 elderly people, while also including a dementia-sharing session on symptoms and carers' needs.
- Vincent Yan Man-fai, HSBC Hong Kong's head of retail and wealth products distribution, said the aim is to make anti-scam tips practical and memorable.
Why It Matters
Hong Kong's ageing population is increasingly exposed to financial fraud, and HSBC's own figures suggest older customers account for a significant share of scam losses by value. By combining fraud education with dementia awareness and planned service upgrades, the bank is positioning scam prevention as part of broader age-friendly banking support rather than a one-off publicity exercise.