To strengthen self-protection capabilities of students with special educational needs and senior citizens, the Consumer Council (the Council) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) have joined hands in launching a series of new virtual reality (VR) simulation games designed to foster proper attitude towards consumption with the use of credit cards, while raising the participant’s awareness of fraud prevention through a gamified learning experience.
The VR simulation games feature two key themes (see Annex (Chinese only)): “Be a Smart Credit Card User,” covering basic knowledge of credit card usage and concepts of rational consumption, and “Beware of Credit Card Fraud,” simulating the scenarios of fraudsters using phishing links and fraudulent calls purporting to be from bank staff. Through the four simulated scenarios — “Credit card ABC”, “Responsible use of credit cards”, “Beware of phishing links”, and “Beware of fraudulent calls”— the games offer an immersive and interactive experience with vivid decision-making prompts, real-life roleplay, and simple yet entertaining mini-games with over a hundred interactive options, equipping persons with special needs and senior citizens with the knowledge and skill to use credit cards responsibly and identify scams. Participants can use the VR headsets and handheld controllers for an immersive first-person experience.
The Council and the HKMA recently organised an event at Fortress Hill Methodist Secondary School for students to try out the games for the first time. Ms Gilly Wong, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council, said, “Consumers with special needs and some senior consumers often have limited knowledge of credit cards. The Council is delighted to collaborate with the HKMA in developing this innovative VR simulation game, allowing them to experience overspending and fraud scenarios firsthand while learning how to respond accordingly. Since credit cards serve both as a payment tool and a loan instrument, it is crucial for consumers to establish proper values and knowledge about responsible usage early on. This VR game will be distributed to social welfare organisations and special schools across Hong Kong, to be used in consumer education workshops and activities for promoting responsible credit card usage and fraud prevention.”
Mr Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA, said, “Credit card payments are a common means of transaction, yet they are often exploited by fraudsters as a tool for deception. Members of the public who are not vigilant may fall into the trap of scams. We hope to use interactive games to convey messages on the proper use of credit cards, as well as the importance of guarding against credit card scams in a simple and vivid way, thereby assisting members of the public to use credit cards with peace of mind and enhancing their awareness of anti-scam measures.”
The HKMA launched the Anti-Scam Consumer Protection Charter 2.0 (the Charter 2.0) in collaboration with the Hong Kong Association of Banks last year, to assist the public in guarding against credit card scams and other digital frauds. The Council remains committed to consumer education and safeguarding consumer rights. As a supporting organisation of Charter 2.0, it will continue to enhance public awareness of fraud prevention and self-protection ability.
Since late 2020, the Council has been running the Support Programme for Persons with Special Needs aimed at promoting consumer education among persons with special needs, including those with autism spectrum disorder, mild intellectual disability, and common mental disorder, in identifying unscrupulous trade practices and scams. The Programme provides a range of educational resources for frontline social workers, teachers, and caregivers, including training handbooks, game cards, case study videos and posters, and Easy-to-Read Guides. In 2023, the Programme also piloted its first VR educational tool focusing on the unscrupulous sales tactics of beauty and fitness centres. To date, the Programme has organised more than 180 consumer education sessions for over 4,600 participants from 80 social welfare organisations, self-help groups, and special schools.
A desktop version of the credit card VR simulation games is also available. Members of the public may visit the websites of the Consumer Council and the HKMA for relevant information.
Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Consumer Council
14 April 2025
Image Captions:
1. Ms Gilly Wong Fung-han, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council (second from left), Mr Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (second from right), Mr Alan Au, Executive Director (Banking Conduct) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (first from right), and Mr Francis Ho, Deputy Chief Executive of the Consumer Council (first from left) attends an experimental virtual reality (VR) simulation games event at a local secondary school.
2. Participating students try out the virtual reality (VR) simulation games.
3. The Consumer Council and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority co-organises an experiential virtual reality simulation games event for students.
