US Visa scam artist on the loose in Berbice

Oct 29, 2012 News

Several persons have come forward to report that they were fleeced by a Corentyne woman charging them US$510 each for a United States Visa.
One of the victims told Kaieteur News she paid a woman, whose only name was given as ‘Shelly’, US$510, in June for a US Visa. The victim stated that the woman is in her thirties and is from Number 52 Village on the Corentyne.
The victim, who is from the East Bank of Demerara, said that she heard of the woman’s ‘backdoor’ services from an overseas friend and decided to take up the offer to get a US visa.
None of the scam artist’s victims ever saw her face- to- face; since she would have agents stationed around the country, as far as Linden, to collect the monies on her behalf.
“She has this woman, ‘Barbara’, who is one of her agents on the [Linden] Highway”, related the victim.
When this newspaper contacted ‘Barbara’, she denied being an agent of the said woman; but did not deny knowing the scam artist.
“I can’t give too much information, because I don’t even know the individual’s right name…I don’t know much about the person”. All I know is that I have her cell phone number— the same one you [KN] have and I heard what she was doing, but I don’t really know if she did it to a lot of people”.
When asked how she got to know ‘Shelly’, she stated that “I have known that person for some time. A family member from New York had sent something with me for her and that is how I get to know her”.
According to ‘Barbara’, as recent as June, she “was asked to drop an envelope to her [the scam artist]”. She did not know what was in the envelope and did not want to give the name of the person who asked her to drop the envelope. But the victim wants the law enforcement officials to arrest the woman and deal with her condignly.
“The police at Number 51 Village Police Station know about her. I spoke to an officer and they said that they know she is a ‘scamp’. The victim went on to say that she tried umpteen times to get back her cash from the woman but she is being avoided. “Everyday she telling us ‘Today [they will get back the money], tomorrow, today, tomorrow…since June month this money pay and I went in the embassy on July 19, 2012 and did not ‘get through’ [was not granted a U.S. Visa]…she [the scam artist] turned off her phone for the whole week”.
“She ripped off a lot more people but they are afraid and embarrassed to come forward.”
“According to the victim, the woman demands US$510 as the main fee for the US Visa plus GY$5,000 transportation charges to go to the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown and takes in the victims’ applications herself. She also charges GY$5,000 for filling the application forms for the victims.

Latest News

US Visa scam artist on the loose in Berbice

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

India produce dominant 60-run win over West Indies to claim 2-1 T20I...

Guyanese athletes make mark at second Kares Cross...

Minister Ramson tables historic Guyana Horse...

Trophy Stall on board with Petra-KFC Goodwill...

Topp XX and Winners Connection seeking...

GFF and MEYBA launch new kits to unite Guyanese...

Features/Columnists

A question of timing and priorities

Let the asylum seekers go: a first step for Venezuela to rebuild relations in the Americas

Upcoming elections rich with opportunities

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

US Visa scam artist on the loose in Berbice

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]