StanChart HK combats scams with new anti-fraud convenience store

Riding on the theme of last year’s “Anti-fraud restaurant” (防騙大查樓) campaign, Standard Chartered Hong Kong (SCBHK) has doubled down on its efforts to combat online scams with a thematic convenience store at Festival Walk titled “Anti-fraud convenience store” (防騙便利店).

This comes as the rise in fraud cases across Hong Kong has started to slow, with financial losses from scams decreasing from HK$3.79 billion in the same period last year to HK$2.87 billion, according to Keith Yip (pictured right), deputy commissioner of police (operations). 

Furthermore, SCBHK’s fraud detection rate tripled in the first five months of 2025, said Mary Huen (pictured centred), CEO, Hong Kong and Greater China and North Asia, Standard Chartered. Compared to the same period last year, the bank has increased the amount of fraudulent funds intercepted before transfer, and the losses incurred by its clients have decreased by 70%.    

From last year's thematic restaurant to now the convenience store with expanded scope, Standard Chartered Hong Kong aims to educate the public on how to guard against common scams, such as fraudsters impersonating officials or customer service representatives, investment tip scams, and electronic payment scams such as phishing messages or fake websites, in an interesting and engaging manner.

Targeting the general public, ranging from students to seniors, regardless of gender, income level, and occupation. The new campaign is done in collaboration with creative and social agency Secret Tour Hong Kong, media agency iProspect Hong Kong, and events and PR agency Ichi Events Hong Kong. 

Available until 20 July, the pop-up store at the Festival Walk atrium offers visitors a simulated shopping environment featuring various creatively designed "anti-fraud products". These include cup noodles with flavours such as “spicy transfer surprise” (未授權交易你處理咗味) and “fishy official notice" (收到政府通知你協助調查味); candies called “Gullible gummies" (投資邊有贏硬糖 小心投資糖衣毒藥); and dim sums such as “custard info-lead bun" (假冒商家魔爪) and “the claws of fake sellers" (私隱被賣豬仔包). Tailored anti-fraud messages are designed for each product and display touchpoint inside the pop-up store, addressing the three most common fraud types in 2024, including impersonation scams, investment scams, and e-payment scams.

As part of the campaign, SCB hosted a launch event at the pop-up store featuring Huen; Yip; Arthur Yuen (pictured left), deputy chief executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA); and local celebrity Kalok Chow (周嘉洛). Together, they aimed to raise public awareness about fraud prevention. At the event, Chow shared anti-fraud tips while serving as a “one-day store manager”. He introduced the concept of the pop-up store, its various anti-fraud products, and key messages, during the TVB programme "Scoop" (東張西望).

Additionally, financial media were invited to cover the event, helping to spread the news, including the upcoming debut of the "Money safe" feature at SCBHK, to the general public.

Furthermore, the campaign has collaborated with sowinghong, a local illustrator known for his cartoon character “Tai Ma Shing” (大麻成), to create several “scammer” characters for use across the pop-up store, the local financial magazine eDigest's advertorial, its social engagement game, and a set of WhatsApp stickers.

Following the launch event, the management team of SCBHK acted as “fraud busters” at the pop-up convenience store, sharing the latest anti-fraud information with university students and elderly people from St. James’ Settlement while they “shopped” the 14 “creative products”. This aims to foster community involvement and provide direct education and support to those in need, according to SCBHK. A sustaining phase of this campaign is currently in progress, aiming to extend the initiative to the community, including the Hospital Authority and other St. James’ Settlement centers.

A robust online presence has also been established through social media, websites, client communications such as app pushes and various online banners, as well as below-the-line (BTL) channels available at Festival Walk and branch displays.

“Being one of the first to respond to the HKMA's call in April to introduce the interim ‘Money safe' measures, we will become the first bank in Hong Kong to fully implement 'Money safe' within this month. Customers can activate this feature not only by visiting branches but also through SC Mobile, online, or phone banking, providing convenient ways to access this protection for their deposits. We will continue to increase our investment in fraud prevention technology and public education to help guard against evolving scams,” Huen said. 

Don’t miss: StanChart HK turns dim sum eatery into anti-fraud restaurant

Back in May last year, SCBHK transformed a dim sum eatery into an anti-fraud restaurant as part of its “Anti-fraud restaurant” public educational campaign on fraud prevention. 

Done in collaboration with creative agency Secret Tour Hong Kong and PR agency Vane Communications, the campaign transformed a dim sum restaurant called 龍點心 in Wan Chai into the "Anti-fraud restaurant”, serving a selection of unique, anti-fraud-themed dim sum dishes such as "Can't tell truth from dumpling" (難分真與餃), "Youngster telephone congee" (小鮮肉電話粥), and "Greed is like a cow's desire" (貪念牛慾求).

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