Two People Scammed Out of £15,000 Each: Police Issue Warning
- markdarrenwilkinso
- 9 hours ago
- 1 min read
Islanders Urged to Stay Alert After Sophisticated £15K Online Scams
Two Jersey residents have each lost more than £15,000 in a recent wave of sophisticated online fraud, prompting renewed warnings from the States of Jersey Police.
Authorities say scammers are contacting individuals online under the guise of shipping "high-value goods" to the island. In these cases, the fraudsters provided what appeared to be official paperwork from Jersey Customs and Immigration Service (JCIS), requesting payment of goods and services tax (GST) before the fictitious goods could be released.
According to police, the fake documents are “highly convincing” and crafted to pressure victims into making swift payments. In reality, no goods ever existed.
Convincing Tactics
The scammers falsely claim they’ve already covered the GST, asking victims to reimburse them directly. However, the transaction is a ruse—victims are left out of pocket, and the promised goods never arrive.
The police have reminded the public that JCIS does not request GST payments via third parties or unofficial communication channels.
What to Do
Islanders receiving any suspicious customs-related documentation or GST payment requests are urged not to pay, and instead to contact Jersey Customs directly for verification.
In a statement, police advised: “Be cautious of unsolicited offers involving goods being shipped to Jersey. Never share personal or financial information with unknown individuals.”
Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity directly to the States of Jersey Police.
