How to Report Cybercrime and Online Fraud in the British Virgin Islands (2026)
Scammed or hacked in the BVI? Who to call (999 and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force), how to preserve evidence, and how to try to get your money back.
The British Virgin Islands are a British Overseas Territory with their own police force, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), so if you are scammed or hacked here you report locally, not to any UK or US 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: Government of the Virgin Islands: RVIPF · Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act 2014 · Data Protection Act 2021
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 999 (911 also works).
- Fraud, scams and cyber-enabled crime: report to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force on the non-emergency number 311, at the Customer Service Care Centre on (284) 468-3701, or by email to [email protected]. Ask for a report reference for any bank or insurance claim.
- Suspicious money movement is monitored by the Financial Investigation Agency, which receives reports from banks and financial businesses. As a member of the public, route your report through the police.
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 British Virgin Islands use the US dollar, and most losses move by wire or card. 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 RVIPF first and give them every detail.
Scams that hit the BVI
The RVIPF has warned repeatedly about:
- Police-impersonation phone scams, where a caller poses as an RVIPF officer and demands money or personal information. Officers never do this by phone.
- Phone and text scams targeting residents, with elderly and vulnerable people specifically targeted.
- Phishing emails and messages that harvest logins and card details. See how these work in our explainer on how phishing works and how to stop it.
The law and your data
Cyber offences in the British Virgin Islands, such as unauthorised access to a computer, are dealt with under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act 2014 (amended in 2019). Your personal data is protected by the Data Protection Act 2021, overseen by the Office of the Information Commissioner.
FAQ
Can I report to the US FBI or UK Action Fraud from the BVI?
No. The British Virgin Islands have their own police force. Report to the RVIPF. 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 RVIPF, 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 messages to the police helps them warn others and track offenders. Block the sender and keep a screenshot.
Sources: Government of the Virgin Islands (RVIPF) · Financial Investigation Agency · Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act 2014 · Data Protection Act 2021
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.