The Prince’s Palace has issued a warning over a fraud scheme in which scammers are impersonating official Palace representatives on WhatsApp to extract personal information and money from members of the public.

According to the Palace, the scam has been active since the start of 2026. Those behind it create fake WhatsApp profiles posing as Palace staff, using the contact to build trust before soliciting funds under the guise of donations or investment opportunities.

The fraudsters are using voice-imitation technology and fabricated images and videos to appear credible, and are capable of manipulating their phone numbers to make it appear that messages are coming from an official institutional number. Fake official-looking documents are also being circulated as part of the deception.

What to watch for

The Palace advises the public not to share any personal information — including identity documents, addresses, email addresses or bank details — with unknown contacts, and not to pass on information about third parties. Anyone who receives a suspicious message is urged not to respond and not to click on any links.

What to do if contacted

Anyone who believes they have been targeted is advised to collect any available evidence — including the WhatsApp contact profile, any email addresses used and any documents received — and report it immediately to Monaco’s Sûreté Publique on +377 93 15 30 15. Any contact claiming to represent the Palace should be verified through official channels before any information is shared.

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Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti