Scams are unfortunately becoming more common in Mauritius, especially with the rise of online marketplaces and social media transactions. Many of us have either heard of friends being duped or even experienced it ourselves. Just recently, someone in our Frolic chat shared how they lost Rs 10,000 to a fake second-hand furniture ad on Facebook.
What happened next was a reminder of why our Frolic network is so valuable: members immediately shared practical advice on what steps to take, from reporting to the police and the cybercrime unit, to contacting the bank and CERT-MU. The collective wisdom was so helpful that we thought: why not gather it all here in one article, so everyone can benefit?
So here’s a guide on how scams usually work, how to avoid them, and what to do if you fall victim.
1. What Scams Can Look Like
Be particularly careful with ads on social media for new or second-hand goods.
🚩 Red flags to watch for:
Prices that seem too good to be true
Sellers pushing for immediate payment for deposits before you’ve seen the item/service
Accounts with little history on Facebook/Marketplace
Communication from foreign numbers (often WhatsApp/Telegram)
2. How to Avoid Being Scammed
A few golden rules can save you:
Never pay upfront – always see the product in person and pay on delivery.
Use secure payment methods – credit cards give more protection than direct transfers.
Check the seller’s history – look for reviews, mutual friends, or account activity.
Verify independently – if it’s a company or service, check their official website or call them directly.
Take screenshots – just in case, you may need them later, as scammers can delete their posts afterwards.
Trust your instincts – if something feels rushed or “off”, walk away.
3. What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed in Mauritius
If you suspect you’ve been scammed, act fast:
Gather evidence – screenshots of posts, messages, bank account details, phone numbers.
Report to the police station or online via MauCORS, the official platform for cybercrime reporting in Mauritius: maucors.govmu.org.
If you go to the police station, bring a hard copy and soft copy (pendrive) of all communications and the banks details of transfer. Kindly be aware that police in Mauritius are very slow…and any arrest will take some time as they will have to ask for a judge’s order to access the bank account on which you transferred the money. You may have to keep following up with the person in charge there.Contact the Cybercrime Unit – at Line Barracks (Casernes), Port Louis, or online via CERT-MU.
Notify your bank immediately – while Juice transfers can’t usually be reversed, banks can flag the account and cooperate with police investigations.
Spread the word – share your experience so others don’t fall victim to the same scammer.
Let go – sometimes peace of mind is more important than chasing the loss. Money will come back in another way.
🙏 A big thank you to our Frolic members who shared their insights and support when this scam came up in our chat. Your advice was precious — and by putting it all together here, we hope even more people can stay safe.
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