The most significant and high-profile category of fraud in Mauritius during 2025 was Digital and Investment-Related Fraud, with a notable focus on Fake Cryptocurrency and Recovery Scams.
Mauritius, as an international financial hub with a high rate of internet connectivity, is targeted by sophisticated global cyber fraud networks, which often use the country as a base for operations against international victims, as well as targeting local residents.
The Number One Scams: Crypto Investment and Recovery Fraud
The top scam is a two-part threat:
1. Bogus Investment Schemes (Crypto and Forex)
These mirror the scams seen globally, but often target the relatively wealthy local and expatriate population with promises of high, guaranteed returns.
The Tactic: Fraudulent investment platforms lure victims to put money into schemes (often promoted via social media) claiming to trade cryptocurrency or Forex. Once the money is transferred, the platform is disabled, and the funds are lost.
2. Crypto Recovery Platform Scams (The Double Scam)
This represents the most aggressive evolution of fraud, often coordinated from call centers located on the island.
The Tactic: Scammers target individuals who have already lost money in a previous crypto investment scheme. They pose as legitimate “crypto recovery services” or “fraud investigation agencies” (often setting up fake international-sounding companies).
The Fraud: The victim is persuaded to pay an upfront “activation fee,” “tax,” or “insurance fee” (sometimes starting at over EUR 500) to recover their lost funds. The victim loses this second payment as well, often amounting to much more than the initial loss.
2025 Case: The Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) of Mauritius made high-profile arrests in April 2025, dismantling a large international scam operating from call centers in Mauritius that targeted victims in Europe with a fictitious “Empire Crypto” recovery platform.
Other Significant Financial Frauds
While not as widespread among the general public, the year 2025 was also characterized by major high-level corporate and political corruption fraud cases that have shaken public confidence:
Political Corruption: The arrest of former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on money laundering charges and the investigation into former officials linked to disputed land allocations and public fund misuse highlighted severe, high-value public procurement and corruption fraud within the state apparatus.
Electronic Fraud: Embezzlement and electronic fraud, facilitated by the abuse of position within institutions, remain a constant financial threat, causing millions of US dollars in losses annually.