The Government is urging the public to remain vigilant amid a rise in social media scams using the names and images of Ministers.
One recent example shared on Facebook wrongly attributes a quote to Jane Poole-Wilson MHK, Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, claiming she was speaking to Isle of Man Today about a government-backed bond platform.
The Government has confirmed the post did not originate from the Minister or any official source.
Scams
Another scam advert claims users can earn between £500 and £1,300 per day through a trading platform, stating that “registration for the Isle of Man is now open”. Officials say this claim is also false.
The warning follows earlier incidents in which AI-generated footage was used to falsely suggest the Chief Minister, Alfred Cannan MHK, was endorsing a financial product.
The Department of Home Affairs says such scams are designed to appear credible by exploiting public trust in well-known individuals and official titles. It has reiterated that Ministers and government officials never use their position to promote investment opportunities, financial products, giveaways or schemes via social media or unsolicited links.
Deceive the Public
Mike Haywood, Director of the Government’s Cyber Security Centre, said scammers are increasingly using sophisticated techniques to deceive the public.
“Scammers are using AI-generated images, video and fabricated quotes to make posts look authentic,” he said.
“People should be cautious of content that creates urgency, promises guaranteed returns or asks for personal or financial information. If something seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.”
At least £1.2 million was lost to investment scams on the Isle of Man in 2024 based on reported cases, with authorities warning the true figure is likely to be much higher due to under-reporting.
Members of the public are encouraged to verify claims through official Government channels and report suspected scams using the Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Concerns Online Reporting Form, helping authorities track emerging threats and protect others from harm.
The Government says it will continue working with partners and online platforms to reduce the impact of scams and has thanked the public for staying alert and reporting suspicious activity.
