Conman swindles Old Harbour business

The operator, who requested anonymity, said he’s willing to tell what happen because he doesn’t want any other business to fall victim to this scammer.

The situation unfolded on Tuesday, July 12 about 3:45 pm when a man, who had called the multi-mart store, visited the location to purchase a substantial amount of goods valued in excess of $200,000. But instead of paying in local currency the man presented US$2,000, claiming he had recently arrived in the country and didn’t get the chance to convert the money to Jamaican dollars. The store supervisor who he had spoken to over the phone initially checked the security features of the cash and was satisfied that all greenback notes presented are legitimate. 

She proceeded to put through with the transaction, however, the man raised a concern of his own regarding the rate of exchange which he said was too low. The man, dressed in black clothing, took back his money before having a change of heart, telling her that she can go ahead and process the transaction.

This was done. But the man then told the supervisor that someone was outside waiting on him to pay them. He then gave the supervisor $30,000 for the value of the goods on the counter as surety that he will return, but he never did.

Conspicuously missing by his non-return to complete the transaction, the supervisor became curious and notified the managers. At this point the operators discovered that they had received US$120 from the man and not $2,000. 

“She was giving him at 120-1 and he said that too small. So it came to 240-1. She gave him back the US and take back our money and walk away and at that time he made the switch, call her back and tell her that him will work with it.

“He stepped under the camera where we can’t see him, at the blind spot, made the switch and then walk back to her,” the manager explained to Old Harbour News after reviewing CCTV footage.

The man was very clever at this point to deceive the supervisor as he switched the pack of 20 USD $100 notes with another batch of USD notes that included a single US$100 note, strategically placed atop the stash, and 20 USD $1 notes.

Several calls to the cell number that the man had used to contact them went unanswered.

Detective Inspector and head of the Old Harbour Police Criminal Investigative Branch Carl Morris said the police are aware of such devious schemes deployed by scammers.

He said persons are usually charged with larceny by trick for such an offence with length of sentencing depending on the convict’s ability to repay, the amount in restitution required and criminal track record.

The business operator he noted did not breach any statues under the financial regulations, as the US dollar is a legal tender in Jamaica and the amount transacted was within the one million Jamaican dollar threshold stipulated under the law.

“We won’t be processing anymore US dollars going forward until we can introduce a policy where you have to produce at least two identifications,” said the store manager.

Further checks made by Old Harbour News revealed that this is the second business operator in Old Harbour who has been swindled in this manner. Two months ago another businessman said he was fleeced hundreds of thousands of dollars by a con artist who bears no resemblance to Tuesday’s trickster after we shared his image.

Now that he has been made aware of this recent episode he’s of the opinion that a syndicate of fraudsters has made Old Harbour their prime target.

The police are urging business operators and even individuals to be more vigilant in anticipation of these kinds of unscrupulous persons.