FIU urgent public advisories: Money Mule and Smishing scams

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) alerts the public of a Money Mule scam requiring you to facilitate the transfer monies outside of Grenada shores.

How the scam works:

1. You are contacted by a friend or someone asking to provide your account information to receive money on their behalf as a job
2. Stolen funds are transferred into your account
3. You are instructed to withdraw the money and send most of it outside of Grenada using money service remitters. You are told to keep an amount as your payment for doing the job

Legal warning: If you allow your account to receive or transfer these funds, you may be

1. Committing Money Laundering
2. Handling Proceeds of Crime
3. Charged, fined, or imprisoned

Protect yourself:

1. Do NOT provide your account details to facilitate illegitimate transactions
2. Do NOT withdraw or send monies that do not belong to you
3. Contact your bank immediately
4. Report it to the FIU

Do NOT be a Money Mule. It can land you in legal hot water.

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) alerts the public to an increase in fraudulent text messages (smishing) targeting bank customers.

What to look out for:

• Text messages from local Grenadian numbers claiming that your account has been suspended or unusual activity detected
• Messages include a link to FIX your account

These messages may appear legitimate — but they are NOT.

How the scam works:

1. You click the link and are taken to a fake bank website (identical copy)
2. You enter your banking credentials (name, password), codes, and email details
3. Criminals gain full control of your bank account and email
4. Whatever money that you have in your account is quickly transferred to another account. If you don’t have money, your account is compromised

Protect yourself:

1. Do NOT click links in text messages or emails from your bank
2. Do NOT share personal or banking information via SMS links
3. Do NOT share one-time passwords (2-factor authentication codes)
4. Always type your bank’s website manually
5. Call your bank directly to verify any message

If you are targeted:

1. Contact your bank immediately
2. Change your passwords (bank and email)
3. Report it to the FIU

Remember: Your bank will NEVER ask you to restore your account via a text link. Don’t click. Don’t share. Don’t send.

A message from the Financial Intelligence Unit