The Bermuda Monetary Authority has warned residents to be aware of telephone scammers who claim to be calling from the agency.

The BMA issued the alert after receiving a report from one resident who took a call from someone demanding banking information.

A BMA spokeswoman said: “The caller misrepresented that they were an employee of the BMA in an attempt to obtain personal banking information from the unsuspecting individual.

“The authority was made aware of the phishing attempt by a concerned individual and wishes to advise the public that it would never make a request for personal banking details from any person.

“The authority emphasises that it does not represent any local or international bank, and where such information is requested by any person claiming to require such information from the BMA, that individuals should never provide such details.”

The spokeswoman added that anyone receiving such phone calls should contact the police and their bank.

She said: “Any similar phone calls, text messages or e-mails should be treated as phishing attempts, and recipients should avoid clicking on any links or opening PDFs or any other attachments within or attached to any e-mails.”

Anyone who receives suspicious phone calls or e-mails that appear to be from the BMA is asked to call the authority’s Corporate Affairs Department on 278-0642 or e-mail msmatvey@bma.bm.