Recognising a scam type is the first step to avoiding it. These are the schemes most frequently reported in Bermuda and across the region.
Romance Fraud
Online Romance Scams
A stranger builds an emotional relationship over weeks or months, then asks for money for a crisis, medical bills, or a plane ticket.
Never send money to someone you have not met in person.
Investment Fraud
Fake Investment Schemes
"Guaranteed returns" on crypto or forex trading. The platform is fake. Your money goes straight to the criminals.
If returns sound too high to be true, they are.
Purchase Fraud
Online Shopping Scams
Goods advertised cheaply on social media or classified sites. Payment is taken, then the seller disappears.
Use secure payment methods and verified sellers only.
Impersonation
Bank or Government Fraud
Someone posing as your bank or a government agency claims your account is at risk and pressures you to transfer funds.
Your bank will never ask you to move money to keep it safe.
Advance Fee
Lottery and Prize Fraud
You have won a prize — but must pay fees, taxes or customs charges to receive it. The prize never arrives.
If you did not enter, you did not win.
Tech Support
Tech Support Scams
A pop-up claims your computer has a virus. A caller offers to fix it for a fee and requests remote access.
Microsoft and Apple never call you unsolicited.
