The Central Bank of Samoa says more than US$214,000 has been lost to con artists over the past five years.
A spokesperson for the bank's Financial Institutions Department, Gilbert Wongsin, told the Samoa Observer, more than fifty cases have been referred to the Central Bank over the last two years.
The Samoa Money Laundering Prevention Authority has issued a public notice warning people of such scams.
The Central Bank Governor, Maiava Atalina Ainu'u-Enari, says she is seriously concerned over the increased number of scam cases brought to the bank's attention.
Maiava says she wants to remind the public that letters, emails or mobile phone messages, offering rewards on uncollected millions, overseas lotto winnings or requests for monetary assistance are nothing but scams.
