(Jamaica Observer) – Both the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) and the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) have given notice of fraudulent emails in circulation which purport to give advice on funds being held which are available for collection.
In a notice posted on its website, the JSE notes, “It has come to the notice of the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s attention that members of the public have been receiving emails circulated as originating from JSE and from addresses associated with the Stock Exchange, purporting to inform persons about ‘Accumulated Dividends on your Portfolio’.” The JSE advises members in the financial sector and the general public that the emails do not originate from the Stock Exchange “which has not disseminated any instructional messages to the public”.
“Importantly,” the JSE notes, “people in receipt of such messages should not proceed to open or execute any program contained therein, as we are advised that these emails have attachments which may contain malicious software.”
The BOJ – in a notice also posted on its website – said it is aware that unscrupulous people falsely purporting to be representatives of the Bank have been contacting individuals with claims of funds being held by the Bank on their behalf for collection.
The BOJ said these people have also provided documentation, purportedly coming from the Bank, in support of the existence of these funds.
The BOJ states in the notice, “Central banks are bankers only to banks and to their respective governments, and the Bank wishes to advise that as the central bank of Jamaica, it has no dealings with or involvement in holding funds on behalf of any individual member of the public.”
It added that it will not be responsible for any legal or other consequences that may arise directly or indirectly as a result of anyone’s reliance on such notification in any attempt to collect these funds.
“Members of the public are strongly advised to disregard any such notification and instead notify the police,” the central bank states. The JSE said in its online notice that individuals with concerns regarding the authenticity of any email purporting to come from Jamaica Stock Exchange should forward it to communications@jamstockex.com and/or jseitgroup@jamstockex.com.
