The Department of Health has warned residents and businesses about fraudulent e-mails demanding cryptocurrency payments for public health violations.

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, said: “We want to make it absolutely clear that this notice is fraudulent and was not issued by the Department of Health, the Department of Public Health, or the Environmental Health Section.”

A ministry spokeswoman said the false notices claim to be from the Department of Health’s Environmental Health Section and threaten immediate closure of the business if payments are not made via the Solana blockchain network within 24 hours.

The spokeswoman added that no legitimate notice from the Government of Bermuda would require payment by cryptocurrency or a digital wallet address.

She added: “The Government of Bermuda inspectors do not issue fines or enforcement notices that require payment in cryptocurrency, nor do they direct payments to blockchain wallet addresses.

“Any communication requesting payment through cryptocurrency should be treated as suspicious.”

The spokeswoman said that threats of immediate closure unless payment is made within a short time frame should also be considered a red flag, along with instructions to send payment confirmation to an unofficial e-mail addresses and attempts to pressure recipients to make immediate payments to avoid public disclosure.

Ms Wilson added that businesses should exercise caution when receiving unsolicited notices claiming to be from government departments.

She said: “Carefully examine the sender's e-mail address when receiving communications that claim to be from government departments.

“Official correspondence from the Government of Bermuda is issued through authorised government e-mail accounts ending in @gov.bm.

“Recipients should be cautious of messages sent from personal or non-government e-mail addresses that purport to represent government officials or departments.”

Anyone who has received the notice is urged not to make a payment or respond to the sender, but instead preserve the e-mail and any attachments, and report the matter to the Bermuda Police Service.

Recipients should also avoid scanning any QR codes, click on any links or following payment instructions included in the message as it could expose them to fraud.

The public can contact the Environmental Health section directly to verify the authenticity of any inspection or enforcement messages.

The spokeswoman added: “The Department of Health also reminds businesses that if someone visits them claiming to be an Environmental Health Officer, they should ask to see their identification.

“If they are visited or telephoned, they can always contact our office on 246-7766 to verify the officer is genuine.”