ROYAL POLICE FORCE OF ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
Office of Strategic Communications (STRATCOM)
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Residents urged to Guard Against Cybercrime
St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, Friday, November 21, 2025
The police are urging members of the public to exercise extreme caution when conducting online transactions, following an increase in reports of individuals being defrauded of money and having their personal information compromised.
Investigations are currently ongoing into reports concerning business establishments and private individuals who were contacted by persons falsely claiming to be government officials requesting phone credit top-ups. In other instances, members of the public were asked to disclose personal and financial information to unknown callers and online contacts.
The Police Administration is strongly advising the public not to become victims of these scams and to desist from sharing personal information over the phone or online, unless the identity of the person or agency is verified as legitimate.
To help protect yourself from cybercriminals, the police are recommending the following safety measures:
▪︎ Do not share personal information (such as date of birth, banking details, passwords, verification codes, or ID numbers) with anyone you do not personally know and trust.
▪︎ Never send phone credit or money to individuals claiming to be government officials, unless verified through official channels.
▪︎ Be cautious of unsolicited calls, messages, or emails requesting urgent action, payments, or verification of personal details.
▪︎ Verify the authenticity of businesses, government offices, or financial institutions before responding to requests.
▪︎ Use secure websites when making online purchases or payments. Look for “https” and a trusted payment gateway.
▪︎ Activate two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible on banking apps, emails, and social media accounts.
▪︎ Change passwords regularly and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
▪︎ Monitor your bank accounts and digital wallets frequently for suspicious transactions.
▪︎ Report suspicious activity immediately to your bank and to the police.
The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda continues to work diligently to safeguard the public and encourages anyone who believes they may have been targeted or victimised to contact the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at 462-3913, or the nearest police station.
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