Overview:
Online financial scams are on the rise in Palau, with scammers using social media, fake accounts, artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to make fraud increasingly convincing. The Office of the Special Prosecutor and Financial Intelligence Unit are urging the public to stay alert, protect personal and financial information, and report suspicious activity before it is too late.
Koror, Palau—September 14, 2026
People in Palau, of all age groups, have increasingly become targeted by criminals engaged in online fraud and financial scams. The financial and human costs are devastating and can last a lifetime. Spotting a scam, however, is not always easy. There’s no playbook. Scammers are elusive, creative, and quick to change their approach and tactics. Additionally, with the use of artificial intelligence, deepfake technology, and fake social media accounts, schemes have become more convincing and harder to detect. Knowing what’s happening, how the scams work, and how you can protect yourself and not become a victim is the best defense.
Exercise caution and be especially wary of:
• Facebook and other social media posts that claim to offer help with “successful” stock market or crypto investing. These posts often promise mentorship, insider tips, or guaranteed profits, and are frequently the opening move in a longer-running scam.
• Strangers who reach out on Facebook, Instagram, Email, WhatsApp, and/or Telegram. An unsolicited message from someone you don’t know, especially one that quickly turns to investment advice, romance, or a “business opportunity” should be treated as a red flag, not a stroke of luck.
How to Protect Yourself and Others: A Simple List of “Do’s” and “Don’ts”
| DO | DO NOT |
| Be suspicious of strangers contacting you and asking for money or to make an investment. | Give your password or login details for any account, app, or social media platform or your bank account details, card numbers, or crypto wallet access codes to anyone you do not know |
| Listen to warnings from bank tellers, Western Union officials, or other financial staff. These individuals are trained to spot the signs of a | Accept money from strangers. Being asked to receive and forward funds is a common tactic |
| scam and are trying to protect you, not slow you down. | criminals use to launder stolen money through unwitting victims. |
| Ask yourself: Is this too good to be true? If a stranger is offering guaranteed profits, easy money, or a “sure thing,” the answer is almost always yes. | Wire money to someone you have only met online or over the phone. |
| Report suspicious online contact, ads and activity to the BPS, FIU, or OSP (see below) | Click unknown links or scan unfamiliar QR codes, and don’t download apps recommended to you by someone you met online. |
What to do if you have been scammed or suspect a scam?
First, contact your bank. This is especially true if a check deposit or money transfer is pending with your bank. A check deposit or money transfer that is pending means that your money has not left your account. Ask your bank to cancel the transaction. This may prevent you from losing money.
Beware that in most cases, victims will not get their money back. By the time officials are alerted to scams, the accounts are closed, and your money is gone. The internet is a vast and endless space, making it a safe haven for cyber criminals and scammers to hide and nearly impossible for law enforcement to find them.
Additional actions:
• File a Police Report with BPS
• Submit a Complaint to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) (www.palauosp.org) • Notify the Financial Intelligence Unit (info@palaufiu.org)
• Submit a Complaint online at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. Online scams are a global affair and submitting information to the IC3 will help law enforcement agencies develop response mechanisms to catch the criminals responsible.