This is a warning to the public regarding fraud schemes in which scammers impersonate the Financial Reporting Authority in attempts to defraud intended victims or steal personally identifiable information.
This scheme is a variation of a government or law enforcement impersonation scam, which can come in various forms but most commonly by email or phone calls.
The FRA will never:
- Call or email private citizens to ask for personal or financial transactions or ask you to make any form of payment.
- Ask you to use large sums of your own money to help catch a criminal.
- Request that you send money via wire transfer to foreign accounts, cryptocurrency, or gift / prepaid cards.
The FRA does not conduct formal investigations, asset recovery or any form of financial regulatory function.
The fraudulent emails in these scams use pictures, logos or letterheads of the government or law enforcement agency to give the appearance of legitimacy. Common hallmarks of a scam email include misspellings, missing words, incorrect grammar and use of a slightly different email address.
To avoid becoming a victim of this type of scam:
- Be wary of answering phone calls from numbers you do not recognise.
- Do not send money to anybody that you do not personally know and trust.
- Never give out your personal information over the phone or to individuals you do not know.
If you believe you are a victim of a government or law enforcement impersonation scam please contact your local law enforcement and file a police report. Please also:
- Cease all contact with the scammers immediately.
- Notify your financial institution(s) and safeguard any financial account(s).
- Be sure to keep any financial transaction information, including prepaid cards and banking records and all telephone, text, or email communications.