Press Release 12.23 Public Warning: Stay Alert Against Online Scams

The Central Bank of Solomon Islands through the Solomon Islands Financial Intelligence Unit (SIFIU) is urging the public to remain vigilant and exercise caution when engaging in online activities in order to protect themselves against the rising trend of online scams.

With the exponential growth of the digital landscape, scammers have become increasingly sophisticated and deceptive, targeting unsuspecting individuals of their hard-earned savings.

Online scams include various forms such as phishing emails, fraudulent websites, fake online shopping platforms, and social media scams. These scams often aim to steal personal information, money, or even trick victims into making payments to false online investment schemes such as bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies promising large monetary benefits.

To protect yourself against the online scams, please take heed of the following precautionary measures:

1. Protect your personal information: Never provide or share sensitive information, such as credit or debit card details, passwords, bank account details, unless you are sure of the recipient's legitimacy.
2. Be cautious: Exercise caution while opening emails, clicking on links, or providing personal information online. Verify the legitimacy of the websites or whoever you are engaging online before making any financial transactions.
3. Report suspicious activities: If you encounter anything suspicious or believe you have fallen victim to an online scam, report it to Police or your local bank or the SIFIU or relevant online platforms or someone who you can trust to provide the rightful advice.

The public is encouraged of the importance of staying vigilant and spreading awareness about online scams to our people or communities. By collaborating and sharing information as a community, we can collectively combat cybercriminals and protect ourselves from falling victim into online scams.