The Royal St Helena Police Service (RSHP) is urging residents to exercise a high degree of caution following a recent increase in local reports regarding hacking and phone mirroring.
In these incidents, scammers attempt to gain unauthorised access to personal devices and accounts, often pretending to be someone you know.
To safeguard your personal data and digital identity, the RSHP strongly advises taking the following protective measures:
- Verify Friend Requests: Do not accept social media friend requests (such as on Facebook, Snapchat, or Instagram) from individuals you do not know.
- Double-Check Familiar Faces: If you receive a friend request from someone you believe you are already connected with, verify their identity through an independent channel. Call them on a known, trusted phone number. Never use contact details provided by the new account to verify their identity.
- Be Sceptical of Links: Avoid clicking on any links sent via text, email, or social media messaging unless you are entirely confident the source and the website are legitimate.
- Preserve Evidence: If you suspect you have been targeted, please retain all relevant chat histories, messages, and screenshots on your device. These digital records are vital for police investigations.
- Block and Report: If an online interaction feels unsafe or suspicious, block the user immediately.
How to Report
Please report any suspicious digital behaviour, particularly on platforms like WhatsApp or Snapchat, to the police at the earliest opportunity.
Your proactive reporting helps protect the wider community. For assistance or to lodge a report, please contact the Police Station directly on 22626.
