News

Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) wishes to inform the public of a recent WhatsApp Scam that has impacted a HMCI WhatsApp Group Chat. This Scam resulted in members of the HMCI WhatsApp group being contacted on the pretext of joining a fake Zoom call or being called by an unknown person. HMCI’s prompt detection of the Scam has allowed the department to take swift actions to mitigate any further risks.

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) issued a bulletin on 9 August 2024 reminding the public to be vigilant. Please see key points below:

1. The victim may be sent an SMS Text Message or WhatsApp Message or receive a Telephone call from an unknown mobile number or purporting to be somebody that is known to the victim.
2. There have been reports of scammers using AI technology to imitate a person’s spoken voice; this is often referred to as Deep-Fake Audio.
3. The message received by the victim, will be designed to be deliberately alarmist and require immediate action.
4. The message will be asking the user to provide their WhatsApp 6-digit verification code.
5. After providing the scammer with the 6-digit verification code, the victim would lose access to their WhatsApp account.
6. Thereafter, the scammer will have complete control of the victim’s WhatsApp account and will be able to pretend to be the victim and send messages to the victim’s contact for the purpose of deception and fraud.

How to Protect Yourself:

1. Verify – If you receive any suspicious messages, or calls from someone claiming to be from HMCI or other trusted organisations, always verify by calling or emailing the contact directly using known and trusted contact details.
2. Do Not Share Sensitive Information – Avoid sharing personal or financial information unless you are certain of the identity of the person or organisation.
3. Check for Red Flags – Look out for grammatical errors, unfamiliar senders, or unusual requests, such as asking for payments or urgent action.
4. Use Strong Passwords – Ensure your accounts are protected by unique and strong passwords. Enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
5. Report Suspicious Activity – If you have received a suspicious message, report it to the RCIPS.

If you believe you have been impacted or have any questions, please reach out to us at hmci@gov.ky or call 911.

We ask the public to remain vigilant and mindful of online security as we continue to address this situation.