Latest update December 25th, 2024 1:10 AM
Mar 13, 2015 News
– Berbice man says he was conned in January
Following the revelation of a disabled Mon Repos woman that she had been duped out of $100,000 by a telephone fraudster, other persons have come forward with similar stories.
A resident from #2 Village, East Canje, made contact with this newspaper and explained that he too had been defrauded hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The man said in early January he was contacted via telephone early one morning by someone purporting to be his cousin. His “cousin”, who lives in the US, said he was in Trinidad and Tobago, awaiting a flight to Guyana. The cousin also requested that money be taken to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to clear and uplift some items from an air freight organization.
“I was preparing to head out to work, but had to call in and tell my boss an emergency came up,” the man said. He went on to say that he borrowed $150,000 from a neighbour and took $55,000 from his savings to help out his “cousin”.
The money was later handed over to a man who claimed he was an off-duty customs officer.
“The man told me that he was off-duty but had used his own money to clear the stuff, so I needed to repay him for my cousin,” the East Canje man said.
The purported customs officer, who was dressed casually, met him on the Public Road at Herstelling and collected the money before urging the man to continue on his way to the CJIA.
The man said he realized something was wrong when his “cousin” never turned up on a flight.
“The whole setup was just so cunning,” he added.
He said too that he made a report that very day at two stations, but is yet to hear anything from the police. He said that he is hoping the police will approach his cell phone service provider to find out more information on the fraudster.
He further said that he is aware of about five other persons who had been tricked out of their money. These persons, he said, were in and around the vicinity of Canje and New Amsterdam.
“I thought these persons were finished with taking money from people, but then I saw the story about this Mon Repos woman,” he pointed out.
A Mon Repos woman had recently come forward and told this newspaper that she too had been similarly conned out of $100,000 and jewellery. In her case, she said she was called by a man who claimed to be her uncle from the US.
Dec 25, 2024
Over 70 entries in as $7M in prizes at stake By Samuel Whyte Kaieteur Sports- The time has come and the wait is over and its gallop time as the biggest event for the year-end season is set for the...Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Ah, Christmas—the season of goodwill, good cheer, and, let’s not forget, good riddance!... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The year 2024 has underscored a grim reality: poverty continues to be an unyielding... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]