The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has launched the 2026 anti-fraud public education campaign themed “Unite to Fight Scams.”
It introduced a new series of animated Year of the Horse stickers, “Horse Butler”, as the Chinese New Year approaches, including 10 animated stickers covering themes such as festive greetings, daily transfers, financial innovation, and fraud prevention, with an aim to integrate anti-fraud messages into the everyday scenario of distributing electronic red packets, or lai-see, the HKMA said.
The first campaign project utilises artificial intelligence technology to create a brand-new anti-fraud music video, it said.
Based on the concept of Kung Fu (martial arts) game, deputy chief executive of the HKMA Arthur Yuen Kwok-hang transforms into a game character, facing off against the original fraudster character “Lachachu” (despicable banana in Cantonese) in a battle between good and evil.
The trailer has been released on the HKMA social media platforms, with the full version to be launched soon.
The HKMA said it encourages the public to distribute lai-see via the Faster Payment System or other e-wallets, and wishes to remind the public to protect their savings and guard against fraud when sending festive greetings to relatives and friends.
Lately, there have been fraudsters distributing fraudulent CNY stickers or electronic lai-see with phishing QR codes or hyperlinks via instant messaging software, tricking users into receiving lai-see or greeting cards, and attempting to steal personal information or money, the de facto central bank said, adding that the public should stay highly vigilant during the festive season.
The regulator reiterated that it will not contact individual members of the public regarding personal financial matters, nor will it direct them to conduct transactions or provide any sensitive personal information via SMS or hyperlinks.
