The Central Bank of Barbados has issued an urgent public warning regarding a coordinated fraudulent scam operating via WhatsApp, where bad actors are using the bank’s official branding to trick individuals into disclosing sensitive financial data. According to the bank’s official advisory, the deceptive calls originate from international phone numbers carrying the Pakistani country code (+92), and falsely claim affiliation with both the Central Bank of Barbados and its digital payment service BiMPay.
In a clear statement released to the public, the institution emphasized that these unsolicited communications never came from the Central Bank of Barbados. The bank further clarified that it has a strict policy against reaching out to members of the public out of the blue to discuss BiMPay or any of its other services, eliminating any possibility that legitimate bank representatives would initiate such contact.
To help the public avoid falling victim to the scam, the Central Bank is urging all individuals to exercise extreme caution when receiving unexpected communications asking for personal information. Specifically, officials warned against sharing any sensitive financial details, including account passwords, personal identification numbers (PINs), and one-time security codes, regardless of how legitimate the caller’s claim of affiliation may appear.
For those who have already shared confidential information with the scammers, the bank outlined immediate steps to mitigate harm. Affected individuals are instructed to contact their respective financial institutions right away through official, verified contact channels. Recommended protective actions include changing all account passwords and PINs, and monitoring account activity closely for any unauthorized transactions.
The advisory also notes that community members who receive these suspicious calls should report the incident to the Barbados Police Service in appropriate cases, to help law enforcement track and disrupt the scam operation. For anyone needing to verify information or reach the Central Bank directly, the bank provided its official contact details: the main PBX line at 436-6870, and the dedicated BiMPay hotline at 424-2729.
To further protect the public, the Central Bank encouraged individuals to only seek information about the bank and its programs through its verified official digital channels. These include the bank’s official website at centralbank.org.bb, and the dedicated BiMPay website at BiMPay.bb, which serve as the only authoritative sources for up-to-date, accurate information about the institution’s work.