Financial Crime World

BERMUDA SWAMPED BY HUNDREDS OF SCAMS THIS YEAR, POLICE FIGURES REVEAL

Hundreds of Scams in Bermuda This Year Alone

According to exclusive figures obtained by The Royal Gazette, Bermuda has been hit by hundreds of scams already this year. The revelation comes after a local man was conned out of $35,000 from two HSBC accounts.

Police Figures Show Worrying Trend

The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) confirmed that between January 1, 2023 and today’s date, they have initiated:

  • 54 investigations involving fraud and deception
  • 236 investigations of theft, with the majority relating to scams

When asked about banking fraud statistics, a BPS spokesman revealed that such incidents are usually entered into their database as either ’theft’ or ‘deception’, making it difficult to subcategorize into specific types of scams.

Recent Scam Incidents

  • Raj Hegde’s Experience: A sub-editor at The Royal Gazette, Raj Hegde fell victim to a fake text message claiming to be from One Communications. He was prompted to click on a link and update his details via a website, resulting in financial loss of $35,000.
  • Other Recent Scams:
    • In March, police issued a warning regarding giving out personal banking details after a man lost nearly $1,000 in a fraud centered on bedroom furniture being advertised on Instagram.
    • In December, people lost $10,000 to a scam soliciting payment for goods that were never delivered.

Island Residents Lose Millions

According to police reports, island residents were cheated out of almost $4 million in online scams in 2021 alone.

Reporting Suspected Scams

The BPS encourages anyone who has been affected by suspected scams to report them by:

Remember, it’s essential to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to help prevent further losses.