_ROYAL POLICE FORCE OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA_
_Office of Strategic Communications (STRATCOM)_
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
_Police Warn Residents of Electronic Fraud_
St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda,Tuesday 17 February 2026
The police are issuing an urgent warning to residents regarding a noticeable increase in reports of electronic fraud and unauthorized banking transactions.
Several persons have been making complaints to the police concerning the mysterious disappearance of monies from their bank accounts.
These matters have become a serious concern for the Police Administration.
In response to the growing trend, the Police Administration is 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.
Meanwhile, residents are strongly urged 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. These include:
▪︎ Never share confidential information such as PINs, passwords, one-time codes (OTPs), or security answers.
▪︎ Avoid clicking unknown links in emails, text messages, or social media posts.
▪︎ Verify communications claiming to be from your bank by contacting the institution directly.
▪︎ Use secure websites. Only look for “https://”and the padlock symbol.
▪︎ Enable transaction alerts to monitor account activity in real time.
▪︎ Regularly review bank statements and report discrepancies immediately.
▪︎ Use strong, unique passwords and update them frequently.
▪︎ Avoid conducting financial transactions over public Wi-Fi networks.
▪︎ Keep devices updated with the latest security patches and antivirus protection.
The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to safeguarding the public and urges anyone who suspects fraudulent activity to contact the Criminal Investigations Department or their banking institution without delay.
END