How to Report Cybercrime and Online Fraud in The Bahamas (2026)
Scammed or hacked in The Bahamas? Who to call (919/911 and the Royal Bahamas Police Force), how to preserve evidence, and how to try to get your money back.
The Bahamas has its own police force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), so if you are scammed or hacked here you report locally, not to any US or UK service. This guide shows you exactly who to contact, how to preserve evidence, and how to try to get your money back. Speed matters most: the sooner you tell your bank, the better your odds.
Primary sources: Royal Bahamas Police Force: report a crime · RBPF fraud advisory · Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
On this page
First: stop the loss
- Contact your bank or card issuer immediately. If you sent money or shared card details, call the number on your card or statement, report the fraud, and ask them to stop or recall the payment and freeze the account. For card payments, ask about a chargeback. Our chargeback guide explains how.
- Stop all contact with the scammer. Never send more money to "release" or "verify" funds. That is the scam. Block the number, email and account.
- Secure your accounts by changing passwords, signing out other devices and turning on two-step verification. If you clicked a link, see what to do after clicking a phishing link.
- Keep evidence: emails, texts, payment references, names, numbers and account details.
Who to report to
- Emergency or a crime in progress: call 919 or 911.
- Fraud, scams and cyber-enabled crime: report to the Royal Bahamas Police Force on the non-emergency line (242) 322-4444, at any police station, or through the RBPF online reporting system (for incidents that happened in The Bahamas). Ask for a report reference.
- To pass information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers on (242) 328-8477 in Nassau or (242) 300-8477 in Grand Bahama.
- A data breach involving your personal information can be raised with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
Reporting does not by itself return your money, but it creates an official record and feeds local intelligence. Report even if you did not lose money, because the information still helps stop the next victim.
Getting your money back
The Bahamas uses the Bahamian dollar, pegged one-to-one to the US dollar. How you paid decides your options, and speed is everything.
| How you paid | What to do |
|---|---|
| Bank wire or transfer | Call your bank within minutes and ask them to recall the payment and freeze the receiving account. Wires are hard to reverse once settled. |
| Debit or credit card | Ask your card issuer for a chargeback and dispute the transaction in writing. Card payments carry the strongest protection. |
| Crypto, cash app or gift cards | Rarely recoverable. Report to the platform and the police immediately, and ignore "recovery agents" who contact you, that is a common second scam. |
Because many scams targeting the islands are run from overseas, a full recovery can need cooperation between banks in different countries. Report to the RBPF first and give them every detail.
Scams that hit The Bahamas
The RBPF has warned repeatedly about:
- Phishing, where spoofed emails and fake websites harvest passwords, card and bank details.
- Spoofing and impersonation scams, where fraudsters pose as a legitimate bank, business or government office.
- Hacking, cyberstalking and online romance fraud. See how the messaging works in our explainer on how phishing works and how to stop it.
The law and your data
Cyber offences in The Bahamas, such as unauthorised access to a computer, unauthorised modification of data and unauthorised interception, are dealt with under the Computer Misuse Act 2003. Your personal data is protected by the Data Protection (Privacy of Personal Information) Act 2003, enforced by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. A Data Protection Bill 2025 to modernise the framework is in public consultation but not yet in force.
FAQ
Can I report to the US FBI from The Bahamas?
No. The Bahamas has its own police force. Report to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. If a scam clearly originates abroad, the police can liaise with agencies in that country.
My email or social media was hacked. Who do I tell?
Secure the account first: change the password, sign out other devices and turn on two-step verification. Then report to the RBPF, especially if money, identity or business communications were affected.
I only received a suspicious message and lost nothing. Should I still report?
Yes. Reporting scam numbers and emails to the police helps them warn others and track offenders. Block the sender and keep a screenshot.
Sources: RBPF (report a crime) · RBPF emergency numbers · RBPF fraud advisory · Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
If you have been targeted, you are not alone. See our country-by-country cybercrime help hub for step-by-step reporting and recovery guides.