ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Police say they are observing a “noticeable increase” in reports of electronic fraud and unauthorized banking transactions.
Several people have been reporting to the police the mysterious disappearance of funds from their bank accounts. These matters have become a serious concern for the Police Administration,” the police said in a statement.
The police said that in response to the growing trend, they are “actively seeking dialogue with officials within the banking sector and other financial institutions to strengthen collaborative efforts aimed at protecting customers and enhancing fraud prevention measures.”
The police said that they are “strongly” urging residents to exercise vigilance and to desist from disclosing personal or banking information online, particularly in response to unsolicited emails, messages, phone calls, or suspicious websites.
The police have also issued several safety tips to help protect residents from online fraud, including never sharing confidential information such as PINs, passwords, one-time codes (OTPs), or security answers, and avoiding clicking unknown links in emails, text messages, or social media posts.
They are also urging members of the population to verify communications claiming to be from their banks by contacting the institution directly and enabling transaction alerts to monitor account activity in real time.
The police say they remain committed to safeguarding the public and are urging anyone who suspects fraudulent activity to contact the Criminal Investigations Department or their banking institution without delay.
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