Persons under the guise of Customs Officers are reportedly approaching members of the business community in an attempt to scam them out of money.

The Customs and Excise Division said in a statement Wednesday that they receive reports of that nature recently

“The Division views this matter extremely seriously and is fully cooperating with the authorities to ensure that the fraudulent and unscrupulous actions of certain members of the communities are brought to a stop as soon as possible,” the statement said,

Should any member of the public receive a phone call from anyone purporting to be a member of the Antigua and Barbuda Customs and Excise Division and is in the least bit unsure about their claim, please do not hesitate to contact the Division at 268-462-0028 for verification, the Customs and Excise Division warned.

“If you believe that you have been targeted or fallen victim to any scheme, you are also asked to immediately contact the Criminal Investigations Department of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda to make a report,” they said.

In Antigua and Barbuda, it is an offense to impersonate an officer and any such act carries a fine of $100,000 and/or imprisonment for not less than 2 years.

“The Customs and Excise Division is resolved to operate at the highest levels of professionalism and integrity as it remains steadfast in its overall mission to secure and serve, collect revenue, and protect our borders,” the statement added.