It has come to my attention that fraudulent messages from someone purporting to be me, with the name “Elsworth JohnsonMP,” have been forwarded to a number of Bahamians. These emails claim that businesses/brands have gained access to an international grant and that a “payment fee” will be required to access this grant.

I wish to warn Bahamians that these messages are fake and likely an attempt to trick citizens into paying the “access fee.” If you have received this message, I advise that you do not respond to it. Under no circumstances should you provide any personal information. Further, you should not pay any fees related to the content of the message.

I have reported these messages to the Financial Crimes Investigation Branch of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) for investigation. I will continue to inform the public about the investigationʼs progress.      

Bahamians should remain vigilant and report any suspicious messages to the relevant authorities.

The Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration is the entity responsible for providing vision, strategic direction, policy, and information related to the movement of financial resources, goods and people.

Our priorities are to protect, promote and grow the Bahamian financial services sector, to expand opportunities for Bahamians to engage in international trade, and to facilitate the authorised movement of people for the benefit of The Bahamas.