The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has issued a warning after fraudulent messages began circulating online impersonating one of the organisation’s senior figures.
According to the Foundation, scammers have been using the identity of Olivier Wenden, the former Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer of the organisation and current Chief of Staff to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, in messages sent primarily through WhatsApp targeting contacts and personalities connected to the Foundation’s network.
The organisation confirmed that internal teams are currently investigating the incident in order to assess its scope and implement appropriate security measures.
Recipients have been urged to remain especially vigilant regarding unexpected communications received by email, telephone, SMS or instant messaging platforms — particularly messages involving requests for payments, donations, confidential information or urgent action.
The Foundation also warned supporters and partners to be cautious of messages that appear unusual in tone, wording or sender details, even if they seem to originate from legitimate representatives of the organisation.
As a precaution, individuals are being encouraged to verify any sensitive request through previously established communication channels, such as directly calling their known contact rather than using details provided in suspicious messages.
The Foundation advised anyone receiving questionable communications not to respond, click links or download attachments, and instead report the matter immediately.
The incident highlights the growing use of impersonation scams targeting high-profile institutions and trusted public figures, particularly through encrypted messaging platforms and social engineering tactics.
Image: Olivier Wenden