Hang Seng Bank unites HK villain actors to fight scams

Hang Seng Bank has ramped up its anti-fraud measures by enlisting four Hong Kong actors to promote scam awareness through a reimagined song.

The four actors include Michael Wong (王敏德), Timothy Tse (鄭子誠), Justin Cheung (張建聲), and Sammy Sum (沈震軒), who are renowned for their villainous roles in the entertainment industry, according to the release. 

Running from September to December, the campaign is done in collaboration with local creative agency BYFA Consultancy and media agency EssenceMediacom Hong Kong. A spokesperson from Hang Seng Bank told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE that it is a fresh and creative way to build on last year's efforts to raise public awareness around fraud prevention, during which it collaborated with local artists to recreate popular songs and educate the public about various types of fraud. Recognising that music is a universal language, Hang Seng Bank has used it again as its core medium to communicate its message effectively to the public. 

Don't miss: Hang Seng Bank and local artists reinvent music into 'fraud charts'

As part of the campaign, Hang Seng Bank has formed a boy band called “Hang Seng Anti-Fraud Band” (恒生防騙大惡隊) consisting of the four actors, aiming to integrate fraud prevention messages into the daily lives of citizens. They have performed a revamped version of the Cantonese song "The scammer won't win" (騙徒不勝), which originated from the classic pop song “戰無不勝” from the classic movie Young and Dangerous (古惑仔). It uses new lyrics to reveal various popular scams and convey the fraud prevention message: "Stay calm; scammers won't win” (保持淡定 騙徒不勝). The lyrics are written by local lyricist Leung Pak Kin (梁栢堅).

"By leveraging their iconic villainous personas in an unexpected way, we aimed to surprise the public and make our anti-fraud message memorable," said the spokesperson. 

Furthermore, a music video has been launched on Hang Seng Bank’s YouTube channel. It features the four actors highlighting common scams in today’s society, such as phishing, investment fraud, online shopping scams, and virtual romance scams, while offering the public practical tips for fraud prevention.

According to the spokesperson, the campaign has adopted an integrated online-to-offline-to-online (O2O2O) strategy to reach all Hong Kong people. On Saturday, Hang Seng Bank held a debut song release and fan meeting at The Central Market, aimed at encouraging the public to be cautious of scammers. During the event, the "Hang Seng Anti-Fraud Band" performed the song live for the attendees.

To further spread the anti-fraud message within the community, Hang Seng has launched a special “Hang Seng Fraud Prevention Taskforce bus” (恒生防騙大惡隊專車), which will travel across various districts in Hong Kong from 20 to 26 September. The bank will continue to roll out educational content on its social media platforms.

Diana Cesar, executive director and chief executive, Hang Seng Bank, said: “As the largest local bank in Hong Kong, we have always employed a dual defense strategy of 'technology' and 'human resources’, working closely with the Monetary Authority, the police, and the industry to combat fraud.”

“In terms of technology, we use AI to monitor suspicious transactions and investigate fraud in real-time. In the first half of this year, Hang Seng Bank detected over 1,200 fraud cases, with the detection rate nearly doubling compared to last year, successfully protecting customer funds amounting to approximately HK$200 million. Additionally, Hang Seng employs various security measures, including comparing customers' digital footprints with their behavioral patterns to ensure their safety,” she added. 

Don’t miss: Hang Seng Bank launches anti-fraud specialist team across 21 branches

Back in July, Hang Seng Bank launched a fraud protection specialist team (FPT) across 21 selected branches, along with the launch of an AI-powered monitoring system and a series of anti-fraud education initiatives, reaffirming its commitment to protecting customers against financial scams.

Operating across the 21 branches since 14 July, the FPT comprises over 30 members who have undergone a practical training programme featuring workshops, role-playing exercises, and collaboration with the police’s Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC). Notably, more than half of the team are retirees with extensive experience in the banking industry.

Between July and August, over 420 customers successfully avoided scams, including the interception of a case involving up to HK$1 million in fraudulent funds, according to the release.

Take your brand to new heights with cutting-edge AI strategies, innovative technology, and data-powered experiences. Don’t miss Digital Marketing Asia 2025 in Hong Kong on 20-21 October, where 200+ marketing leaders will explore game-changing trends, proven successes, and bold ideas shaping the future.

Related articles:

Hang Seng Bank launches anti-fraud specialist team across 21 branches
Hang Seng Bank supports eCommerce players and SMEs with new campaign
Hang Seng Bank taps Kaho Hung and Panther Chan to promote credit card usage