The Financial Services Board (FSB) warns the public to act with caution when receiving correspondence with the subject line “non-residential permit” purporting to be from HSBC BANK PLC. Attached to the e-mail is a fake certificate bearing the FSB’s name and logo.
According to the fake certificate “the recipient has complied with the mandatory first minimum deposit and certificate of inheritance and fund release certificate on the recipient’s funds which will be credited into an online banking that will be set up in the recipient’s name. Furthermore, according to the certificate, the requisition of the FSB requires that this type of fund must be duly registered with non-residential permit before the official online banking before approval could be granted for online banking internationally. According to the said certificate, upon receipt of the above requested non-residential permit, the online banking would be approved for immediate access for transferring on the recipient’s inheritance to any designated bank account around the world in accordance with the South African ministry of finance in agreement with the South African financial regulation Act policy of 19(C) as amended in 2001”.
HSBC BANK South Africa has confirmed that such e-mails do not originate from their offices. The FSB also has no connection whatsoever to these e-mails and/or fake certificate to “non-residential permits”.
The FSB again reminds consumers who wish to conduct financial services with an institution or person to check beforehand with the FSB on either the toll free number (0800 110 443) or on the website www.fsb.co.za as to whether or not such institution or person is authorised to render financial services.