'Pause before paying' to avoid being scammed, islanders urged

Saturday, 11 July 2026 07:00

Financial regulators in the Channel Islands are urging people to take extra care before sending money or sharing financial information.

These scams can be highly convincing and often involve pressure, urgency or the impersonation of a trusted person, business or organisation.

A 'pause before paying' approach gives time to check the legitimacy of the request.

The Jersey Financial Services Commission is working with financial regulators in Guernsey and the Isle of Man on 'Authorised Push Payment' fraud - where people are tricked into authorising payments to criminals.

Islanders are encouraged to:

Pause before sending money or sharing personal information
Question unexpected requests, even if they appear to come from someone trusted
Avoid being rushed or pressured into making a payment
Contact their bank immediately if they think they may have been scammed.

Alan Ainsworth, Executive Director of Policy, Communications and Innovation at the JFSC, said:

“Falling victim to a payment scam can be distressing and costly. These scams are designed to look genuine, which is why it is so important that people take time to stop and check before making a payment.

“Our work with the other Crown Dependencies is about supporting a practical and proportionate approach that helps firms respond to this evolving threat and improves outcomes for customers.

“For islanders, the message is simple: if something feels unusual, take a moment, question it and contact your bank straight away if you are concerned.”