The Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority (ABIA) has issued an urgent public alert regarding a growing wave of fraudulent activity that exploits the agency’s official name, registered logo, and institutional brand identity without authorization.
In its official advisory, ABIA clarified a critical boundary for all potential investors and members of the public: the agency never solicits payments from private individuals via unsolicited private messaging on any platform. Any communication that makes such a demand under ABIA’s name is confirmed to be a malicious scam, the authority emphasized.
This brand impersonation tactic is not a new threat. ABIA noted that bad actors have a long history of misappropriating the agency’s official branding to trick unsuspecting targets into transferring unauthorized payments, making this a persistent risk to individuals seeking investment opportunities related to the twin-island nation.
In addition to the scam warning, ABIA also addressed ongoing technical issues with its official website, investantiguabarbuda.org. While the domain remains accessible in some regions, multiple users have reported intermittent service disruptions. The agency’s technical team is currently conducting a full review of the issue to restore consistent, reliable access for all users.
Out of an abundance of caution to protect the public, ABIA outlined clear safety guidelines for anyone interacting with the agency. First, all individuals should only seek information and conduct business through ABIA’s verified official communication channels. Second, users are strongly advised to avoid clicking on any unsolicited links that claim association with ABIA, as these often lead to phishing sites designed to steal personal or financial information.
ABIA reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to two core priorities: protecting the public from financial fraud, and upholding the integrity of Antigua and Barbuda’s national investment ecosystem. The agency closed its statement by urging all individuals to maintain a high level of vigilance when engaging with investment-related communications, and to report any suspicious activity impersonating ABIA immediately to local law enforcement or relevant regulatory authorities.