The bank of Sierra Leone has issued a public notice warning citizens against scammers.

According to the public notice the attention of the Bank has been drawn to postings on WhatsApp groups in Sierra Leone encouraging their members ot join a group on that platform for the purpose of trading in foreign currencies online.

The Bank cited sections of the Financial Services Act for the public to take precautions while trading on foreign currencies online.

the public notice stated that Section 3 of the Other Financial Services Act, 2001 and Section 50A (1) of the Other Financial Services (Amended) Act 2007 solely mandates the Bank of Sierra Leone to licence other financial institutions and Investment Dealers/Advisors in Sierra Leone that solicits deposits from the public, for the purpose of investing such deposits on their behalf.

It ASLO stated that Other Financial Institutions licensed by the Bank of Sierra Leone should conspicuously display their licence for the attention of customers.

The notice categorically stayed that the Bank of Sierra Leone has not granted a licence to any company named Forex Guru Investment to serve as a Dealer or Investment Advisor to the public for any investment activity including trading in foreign currencies online or offline.

It stated that the notices published on WhatsApp are by unscrupulous individuals whose aim is to defraud the unsuspecting public.

The public is advised to disregard any such request either online or offline and immediately report the individuals sending the posts to the Cybercrime Unit of the Sierra Leone Police.