Advance-Fee Scams in Malta
Advance-fee fraud in Malta targets residents with fake EU grant windfalls, lottery prizes, and inheritance claims exploiting the island's EU institutional identity.
Part of: Advance Fee Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Malta's status as an EU member and the presence of EU institutions on the island gives advance-fee scammers a plausible narrative for fabricating EU fund windfalls, grant disbursements, and institutional lottery prizes. Residents receive unsolicited emails or messages claiming they have been randomly selected to receive a large EU grant or have won a Maltese national lottery prize, subject to a small upfront processing fee.
The scams also target Malta's substantial online gaming and fintech worker community with fabricated 'employment bond' or 'work permit fee' demands that must be paid before a lucrative overseas role can begin.
How this scam works on Malta
An email or Facebook message arrives congratulating the victim on winning an EU Malta Fund prize or a large Maltese National Lottery jackpot. A small 'administrative fee' is required to release the funds. Each payment is followed by a new requirement, and the prize is never delivered.
In the employment variant, a well-paying job offer for the gaming or tech sector is extended, but a 'work-bond deposit' must be paid before contracts are signed. Maltese residents applying for overseas roles are targeted, as are overseas nationals hoping to work in Malta's iGaming sector.
Some scammers impersonate Malta Enterprise or similar government bodies to promote fake business-grant schemes requiring application deposits.
Common red flags
- You have won a prize or grant from an institution you never interacted with.
- Any fee must be paid before the prize or grant is released.
- The communication comes from a free email address rather than an official institutional domain.
- Malta Enterprise or EU fund branding appears on unofficial-looking communications.
- Employment offers require upfront bond payments before any contract is signed.
How to protect yourself
- Delete messages claiming prizes or grants from entities you have no prior relationship with.
- Verify any Malta Enterprise or EU fund opportunity directly through official government portals.
- Never pay a fee to receive a prize, grant, or employment offer.
- Consult the Malta Business Registry to verify any company making employment bond demands.
- Report suspected fraud to the Malta Police and the MFSA.
How to report it
- Report to the Malta Police Force cybercrime unit.
- Notify Malta Enterprise if their brand is being impersonated.
- Report phishing emails to the Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA) and CIRCL.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Maltese government run grant schemes requiring upfront fees?
No. Legitimate Malta Enterprise or EU fund grants are processed through official application portals and do not require applicants to pay fees before receiving funding.