9 December 2016

Hong Kong Regulator Concerned over Reported DBS Arrests

Published by Finews Asia – 9th December 2016

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority voiced concern after a media report that more than 20 current and former employees of DBS Group were arrested in connection with an alleged leak of customer data.

Tabloid “Apple Daily“ reported that the city’s Independent Commission Against Corruption, ICAC, made the arrests after client data was allegedly leaked to a telemarketing center in mainland China.

In a subsequent statement of concern, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said on Friday that it would “follow up with the relevant bank,” while the ICAC declined to comment. Singapore-based DBS said that it cooperates with law enforcement agencies, including “informing authorities when we become aware of matters which require their attention.”

Getting Client Data

Telemarketers contacted DBS clients to try to get them to borrow from the bank, with the employees and the call center splitting commissions, the Hong Kong-based newspaper reported, without citing a source for its information, news agency “Bloomberg” further reported. Some employees were sales staff who were authorized to sell loan products in branches or on the street, but not by cold-calling, it said.

Some employees allegedly bribed department managers to get data on bank clients, including names and contact details, “Apple Daily” reported.

 

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