Finance Ministry warns public

According to a recent statement, the ministry said the request usually comes via an email asking people to send personal financial information to the address: ministryoffinancefortrinidad@ gmail.com.

The ministry said this is a FRAUDULENT address, stating that the ministry uses the “gov.tt” domain and not domains such as gmail.com; hotmail.com or yahoo.com.

According to the statement persons are using fake Facebook profiles associated with the fraudulent address to gather information on the pretext that the ministry, the International Monetary Fund and similar bodies are offering grants and loans. The statement said some of the aliases used by the fraudsters are: “Kathy Ann Thompson” and “Melina Haynes”. It added that in some cases persons were contacted by phone and asked to provide the information.

The ministry is asking persons who receive such communication to contact the ministry’s Corporate Communications Unit at telephone number: 612-9700 Ext 2805/6/8/9 or visit the ministry’s website: www.finance.gov.tt for clarification of the services offered by the ministry.