Solomon Islands Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
Solomon Islands sees low-level tourist overcharging around Honiara and dive sites, with a growing exposure to online job and romance scams targeting residents and NGO/resource-sector workers.
Emergency number: 999 (police) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Solomon Islands' small, developing tourism sector means most visitor scams are minor: unlicensed taxi overcharging in Honiara, informal 'guide' fees at WWII historical sites and dive locations, and occasional inflated pricing for boat transfers between islands. Land-dispute and 'customary fee' scams occasionally target foreign investors and NGO workers involved in logging, mining or land-lease negotiations, where individuals falsely claiming landowner authority demand payment. Online, residents increasingly encounter fake overseas job offers (particularly seasonal work schemes in Australia and New Zealand), romance scams via Facebook, and phishing targeting local bank and mobile-money users.
Common scams
- Fake 'landowner' or customary-fee demands targeting foreign investors and NGOs
- Fake overseas seasonal-work job offers requiring upfront agency fees
- Mobile-money and bank phishing scams
- Facebook Marketplace non-delivery scams
Tourist-specific scams
- Unlicensed taxi drivers overcharging tourists in Honiara
- Informal guides charging unauthorised fees at WWII historical sites and dive locations
- Boat operators overcharging for inter-island transfers without agreeing the price first
- Market vendors overcharging tourists for handicrafts
Online shopping scams
- Phishing SMS impersonating banks or mobile-money providers
- Facebook Marketplace sellers taking payment without delivering goods
- Fake 'investment approval' or customary land-lease emails targeting foreign investors
Job scams
- Fake recruitment agencies charging upfront fees for Australia/NZ seasonal worker schemes
- Recruitment scams for mining, logging or NGO jobs requiring advance payment
Romance scams
- Overseas romance scammers targeting Solomon Islanders on Facebook and dating apps
- Fake partners requesting money for travel or emergencies before meeting in person
Investment scams
- Fraudulent logging, mining or land-lease deals involving individuals falsely claiming landowner authority
- Ponzi-style 'money multiplication' schemes circulating within community and church groups
How to report a scam here
- Agree taxi, guide and boat prices before travelling
- Verify land or resource deals through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey and legitimate provincial authorities
- Report fraud or theft to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force
- Contact your bank or mobile-money provider immediately to block the account
- Keep receipts, messages and screenshots as evidence
Local reporting & protection links
- Police emergency — Dial 999
- Royal Solomon Islands Police Force — Report in person at the nearest police station
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your bank or mobile-money provider immediately to block the affected account and report the fraud to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
How can investors verify land or resource deals in Solomon Islands?
Verify claimed landowner or chiefly authority and any lease through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey and relevant provincial government before making any payment, as fraudulent 'customary fee' demands by individuals without real authority are a known risk.
Are seasonal-work recruiters for Australia and New Zealand reliable?
Only use agencies registered under the official Recognised Seasonal Employer or Pacific Australia Labour Mobility schemes; be suspicious of any recruiter charging large upfront fees outside these official programmes.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance