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03:27Welcome to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host Marc Bessan.
03:54Welcome to our viewers in Trinidad and Tobago and of course across the globe.
03:59Today is Tuesday and with us today is Inspector Damien Thomas from the fraud squad.
04:05You know a lot of fraudsters going around trying to outsmart people with their different tricks and different trades and so on.
04:14And of course especially around Christmas is a time where they try to thrive with this kind of dishonest business.
04:22Welcome sir.
04:23Thank you very much Mr. Bessan.
04:25Good day to the viewers and listeners wherever you are.
04:28I just want to take the opportunity to thank the Commission of Police and our executive for allowing us to be here today to send a very important message.
04:36And you're right to say and suggest that around these times there's an uptick in fraud and attempt fraud.
04:43Right. So one particular fraud we want to highlight as the night and evening go ahead is fraudulent checks.
04:50We have been speaking about that every time the show airs and the fraud squad people are here.
04:55But they seem we need to be a little more aggressive in sending the message.
04:59Quite recently as we said on the 27th of November a couple had offered their engine,
05:05their boat engine for sale at Bonas Village in Cedrus only to be duped by fraudsters using a fraudulent check in the sum of $40,000.
05:17So again the message is verify the check before you part with your goods.
05:22I have said it before. I will remind persons to do that please.
05:26If you're having problems getting onto the bank reach out to the fraud squad at 612-2470 extension 15021.
05:34And we'll be more than happy to get onto the banks which we have a proper relationship with to declare whether the check is genuine or not.
05:44Well I mean it's very difficult for a normal person with the naked eye to really know the difference between a fraudulent.
05:55Because they're so good now the duplicates are so good.
05:58So is it a suggestion that maybe not even meeting and taking the check there but going to the bank with the person
06:06and having the bank inspected in front of course before the handover of that transaction.
06:11Would you suggest something like that to persons who are going to be accepting checks?
06:16Of course and that is one very good suggestion.
06:19We are certain though that the person if they are up to no good they wouldn't account to any banks.
06:24But that is one way. The checks invariably comes with some security features.
06:30And as you rightfully said the naked eye person wouldn't be able to recognize that.
06:35So one sure way of identifying whether the check is genuine or not is to reach out to the bank.
06:40If the person is reluctant to go to the bank we ask that you forget a transaction.
06:45Because we know that sometimes there's this inside help from people there.
06:50There are particular machines that they use to make the check look almost authentic.
06:58And as I said before it's extremely difficult for somebody with the naked eye.
07:03Because I remember there was an incident with his deceased now so I can call his name Sharon Otto.
07:12And what had happened was that some people came to me and they were telling me that the purchases were made
07:19where they would put the equipment up for sale.
07:23And in one particular case something equipment for the cost of half a million.
07:30And apparently they had people that called and said they were calling from a business.
07:34They had people actually working the phone things.
07:37So when you called in and you thought you were speaking to somebody from the company.
07:42They delivered a manager's check on the Friday.
07:46They took the equipment and the calling of the gentleman I just told you about.
07:50And on Monday when they got to the bank they realized now the manager's check looked authentic.
07:56But when the bankers checked they realized it was false.
08:01And of course when you call the number there's nobody else to call back.
08:05You're gone with your equipment and you're at a loss because you don't have a half a million dollars which you thought you had.
08:11So even today in modern times you find people thinking that the manager's check is as good as cash.
08:19There's a theory that happened long ago.
08:23But we have to be very careful in these times.
08:25As you said the checks are very good forgeries.
08:28So we are asking you to be vigilant.
08:31Do your due diligence.
08:33And we are here to help.
08:35But prevention is always better than cure.
08:37You don't want to lose your goods and so on.
08:39So you have to be vigilant in these times.
08:41Let me just ask you.
08:42I know that there's a lot of equipment, a lot of things that are available online.
08:47And even people buy on the dark web.
08:51Machines to duplicate checks.
08:54Machines to counterfeit and so on.
08:57Have you seen or have you only been able to in any way pinpoint locations or personnel in a specific area of Trinidad and Tobago that might be responsible for this network?
09:10Well I'll tell you this Mr. Bassant.
09:12We have an operation ongoing as we speak in relation.
09:17So I don't want to say much about that.
09:20To get the people on the other side wiser than they are.
09:23So we are looking into that.
09:25And that's a very good question.
09:27But we are looking into that as we speak.
09:29All right.
09:30So we're going to take a look now at our headlines.
09:49So those were some of the headlines within the last 24 hours.
10:09And earlier today we got some video from just after the Curip Junction.
10:15And we want to take a look at it now.
10:17We've seen police officers in action here.
10:19That's the photo of course.
10:22And then there was some video that we also got.
10:26Our understanding is that there was some attempted robbery of some sort in the location there.
10:37And officers would have responded in quick measure to apprehend the alleged suspects in this particular matter.
10:46So I don't have a lot of just what I was told just before we came on here.
10:51And we have to really say kudos to these officers.
10:56Because you know what, at this heightened time of increased commercial activity,
11:01you will see people trying to steal, rob from people or even small stores and so on.
11:07You're so correct.
11:08So again, good work to the police officers, whatever division.
11:13The police officers are there as a matter of fact.
11:17The police officers from the specialized units like the fraud squad and ECIB and others,
11:22they are augmenting the strength of the divisional police to assist in patrols and all sorts of crime strategies for this
11:31and going into the carnival period so that we are on board to assist our brothers and sisters in the general policing area.
11:37But we want to reach out to the community, the citizens.
11:41Please be vigilant when you're out there, especially for Christmas.
11:45We're learning that people are moving with a lot of cash, large sums of cash.
11:49So we ask you to exercise your option, if you have it, in terms of doing the online transactions and so on.
11:55Yes?
11:56Yes, most definitely.
11:57I think that's pretty good advice.
12:00Don't try to move around with a lot of cash.
12:02I mean, especially now where there are people looking on wondering,
12:06Stagger your activities.
12:08If you're a business person and you go to the bank at 6 o'clock in the afternoon, stagger it.
12:14Do it another time, earlier maybe, because sometimes people zone in on your exact movements.
12:20So don't have the same.
12:22You would agree with me?
12:23Yes, I agree with you, Andre.
12:25There's a theory that suggests the reason for crime happening, the absence of a guardian, a motivated offender, and so on.
12:33So that we're asking you to, yes, look at the surroundings, the environment, because you don't know who is watching you.
12:39If you're moving, if you have absolutely no other option than to move with cash, please do so with more than one person.
12:47Look around and so on.
12:49So we just ask you to be vigilant this time and all the time, as a matter of fact.
12:54Exactly.
12:55We just want to switch gears a little bit.
12:57Now, yesterday, I know you would have read in the newspaper that they found the body of a 47-year-old woman hanging from a tree about 20 feet in height in the Cali Bay area.
13:10She was later identified as Cherianne Rouette.
13:14Now, I was speaking to some senior officers of the Central Division earlier today, but they're not sitting.
13:21Because apparently, residents in the Cali Bay area said that they did not know her, and she was not from that area.
13:30So it would seem after an autopsy today, because when you looked at the height of that tree and the branches far out,
13:40police surmised, of course, that it seemed that somebody would have climbed that tree, tied that rope, and then attached perhaps her body onto it and made it look as if it was suicide.
13:54And apparently, the autopsy, based on what I was speaking to investigators, they believe that she was beaten to death because there were marks across her face and so on.
14:05And I can tell you that many years ago, I think in the late, late 90s, I was covering a high court matter in San Fernando Court involving a girl that they had found in the Palmys Park.
14:19They first suspected that she had committed suicide.
14:22And of course, similar, very similar, she didn't have marks about her body, but when they did the postmortem, they realized, I believe, if memory serves me right, that she had been in some ways strangled to death.
14:34So there was a difference in terms of how the neck was positioned and so on, and the injury sustained.
14:40So certainly somebody is trying to cover what appeared to be a homicide.
14:45Yes, I too saw the article on social media site, and I think the autopsy revealed that there was blunt force trauma, which is very inconsistent with a hanging victim.
14:59And then on top of that, what one of the investigators explained to me is that if she was coming off that branch there, her neck might have been even more elongated.
15:10Right.
15:11And those are the things that you have to look for as a homicide investigator.
15:14Of course, of course.
15:15They will be able to ascertain and look carefully because they will see things that they're trained to see rather than us, the public, you know what I mean?
15:23Yes.
15:24So I know two things are the homicide or any police officers, a matter of fact, mostly homicide.
15:27We have investigations.
15:29They try to find out the motive for the motive for why this person was killed and obviously how she was killed.
15:37So I know that they are on the ground looking at that, and there will be closure in that matter very soon.
15:43All right.
15:44All right.
15:45So I just want to remind you of the numbers to call 623-1711.
15:48Extensions 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997.
15:54We're going to take a short break, and when we get back, we'll talk about this fraud-related activities more and the scammers.
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18:29Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
18:37I'm your host, Mark Besant, joined today by Inspector Damian Thomas from the Fraud Squad.
18:42And I just want to remind you of the numbers to call, 623-1711 Extensions 1992, 1993, 1996, and 1997.
18:53So, a very controversial discussion we had a couple weeks ago about currency in Trinidad and Tobago.
19:01And I think Inspector Thomas is going to give us some guidelines.
19:06You know, all those signs we see of people posting up, we buy U.S. or we buy and sell U.S. for $7, $8, et cetera.
19:16I know you want to kind of clarify some of these things so that people will be cognizant.
19:21Sure. Well, very good topic, Mr. Besant.
19:24This is an opportunity for me to bring to the fore and to the public that situation because it's a very intriguing topic.
19:32We had a comment from the director of the FIU, Mr. Stoddard, recently.
19:37So, people are anxious.
19:39They are saying that they can't get the U.S. for some reason or the other.
19:45The thing is, they are going elsewhere to get it.
19:49So, what we are asking you to do, by not engaging in legitimacy, which is the central bank would give an authority for the other banks to engage in the exchange of currency, most popularly U.S. currency, any currency as a matter of fact.
20:09So, we are asking you, if you do not go to the bank or to a cambio, please do not go anywhere else to get the currency.
20:17We are finding people, because of the anxiety and the desperation to get U.S., they engage in it with all kind of different people for all kind of different money, 200,000 payday, and then they can't get U.S.
20:30So, what I am trying to get at, the exchange control legislation speaks to Section 6, speaks to the people who are authorized to deal in that, right, the banks, some credit unions, the cambios.
20:43And if you engage in that kind of thing, the police might be able to help you in a different way.
20:48That is what I am saying, and the advice is, we know the anxiety for U.S., but please do not become a victim of this kind of thing, because you would not, these people are taking advantage of the situation.
21:02They are asking you to deposit this in their account and go with your money.
21:06To your point in terms of some merchants are advertising, what we have observed is that sometime gone by, they boldly used to put, we buy and sell, and they change the narrative.
21:22They are saying that we accept, we accept.
21:26So, a situation where a foreigner is down here, and he has his U.S. money or whatever currency, and he goes into a merchant, and that is, I do not know the merchant would refuse that.
21:36But in terms of going to the merchant as a local person and changing, because we understand that there are some merchants who, they actually put the rates, 71, 91, that is illegal.
21:49We do not subscribe to that, and it is contravening the Section 6.1 of the Exchange Control.
21:55So, we want to be very clear with that, and moving forward, because you will find yourself in a position that you do want to be.
22:01Well, Inspector Thomas, that was the question I was about to ask, but thanks for clarifying that.
22:05I do believe we have a caller on the line. Caller, good evening.
22:09Yeah, listen to Mr. Bassam and to the officer here.
22:13Two weeks ago, there was a gentleman from the police service. We talked about, we spoke about this forex, and I heard my deal on this thing.
22:22Now, if my uncle comes from the States every Christmas and gives me and my brother 3 or 4 or 5 thousand U.S., right, I save up my money, I could do whatever I want with it, right?
22:33All that could be an offense, and you can't, but it is holding. That is not holding.
22:37I know a lot of people have U.S. and they're selling and buying.
22:40Right in front of the Arima police station, the Chinese police, they buy it at $7.01.
22:44Why can't I have the same? Why it has to be an offense?
22:48Eh? What's so great about U.S.?
22:50Why people can't have the U.S. and change it, sell it, buy it whenever they want?
22:58So he's asking why can't they do that, and I guess you could clarify for him.
23:03Certainly. Let me remind the caller.
23:05Thanks for your question, caller, and your concern, but I want to just go back to the legislation I mentioned, that even in those circumstances, you would be breaching the law.
23:18So we have to be very careful with that.
23:20It is clear what the law says, and we want to stay away from that kind of thing.
23:27We are here to enforce the law.
23:30Any changes in terms of the law, that is for a different set of people.
23:34The executive would need to do that.
23:36So I really don't want to comment too much on what the law has to change and so on, but the law it is as it is now.
23:42All right. We're going to continue this discussion when we get back.
23:46We're going to take a short break now.
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26:22Welcome back to Beyond the Tape. I'm your host Marc Bessant.
26:24Of course, joined today by Inspector Damion Thomas from the Fraud Squad.
26:28And I think we have a caller on the line.
26:30Caller, good evening.
26:32Okay, pleasant. Good evening, Marc.
26:35Officer, I will call and ask that question on Beyond the Tape.
26:40And I'll show you how, you know, how citizens in this country, we do not like to do things the right way.
26:49Now, there's hundreds of thousands of U.S. circulating in this country every single day.
26:55But who need it cannot get it.
26:57And that is because of the same reason.
27:00It's 18 institutions right now that is responsible for that trading of U.S. and also gold and other materials.
27:0718 institutions.
27:10But if it is all around, I mean, the bucket's not full in.
27:14So the same individuals who complain they cannot get the U.S.
27:18Is the same individuals who go in every parlor and shop.
27:24And doing the trade whereas the central bank and all these other institutions are not getting their hands on the money.
27:31So it comes as if, you know, it is not right in a sense.
27:36Right?
27:37The trading, that is what's making it.
27:39You think the forest is really hurting it?
27:41It's who need it not getting it.
27:43There's a black market in this country that's dealing with that.
27:47And this is why it is so difficult.
27:51Not just that there's not a lot of U.S. services circulating in this country every day.
27:55Right?
27:56But no accountability.
27:57That is why it's so difficult for the basic businessman or the basic citizen not getting their hands on it.
28:07So people need to understand.
28:10And we do the right thing, please, people.
28:12It is in everybody's benefit.
28:17I can't comment too much on that, Mr. Bassant.
28:23But I'm sitting that, you know, I don't know if you can guide me.
28:30If there are people, sorry, that are engaging in black market activities with the U.S. dollar in a big way.
28:41Is it that not just in our jurisdiction that they can be in some way charged?
28:47But if, for instance, the U.S. government sees certain things happening, can they also, you know, engage in some kind of discussion with law enforcement?
28:59Because if it's, I'm talking about huge sums of U.S. money they're realizing being sold on the black market in Trinidad.
29:05It's cause for concern because it's U.S. currency.
29:08Well, obviously, that creates an opportunity for money laundering as well, right?
29:11Yes.
29:12Well, what I know is that if it's U.S., obviously U.S. have an interest in that.
29:17So once the law enforcement get involved and there is prosecution, the U.S. may want to extradite that person.
29:27They may want to hold extradition proceedings to be held elsewhere based on the circumstances of the event.
29:34Yes.
29:35So yes, it's a very serious thing.
29:37You mentioned black market.
29:38We understand that gangs are talking about gangs, two or more persons coming together to do certain things.
29:45So when you hear gang, you may want to obviously go straight to violent crimes.
29:50But gangs also assemble to commit white-collar crimes.
29:55So you're talking about the black market and currency and so on.
30:00Not one person doing this.
30:02And you may raise a good point because that also intersects with gun smuggling and drug trafficking where you have that money making a full circle.
30:13Exactly.
30:14Dirty money being clean.
30:15Of course.
30:16I think we have a call on the line.
30:17Caller, good evening.
30:18Yes, sir.
30:19Good evening, gentlemen.
30:20Good evening, sir.
30:22Right.
30:23I just want to respond quickly to the caller before with respect to his talk process about the Porex.
30:31And he mentioned the fact that people are going in shops and parlors and stuff like that.
30:37And he feels that has some negative effect on the economy of Trinidad and Tobago.
30:42He obviously does not understand economics based on U.S. dollars.
30:49The situation in Trinidad is a multi-billion dollar industry with respect to Porex.
30:56So going in shops that change 200 U.S. and have absolutely no impact on the Porex situation in Trinidad and Tobago.
31:06I will listen out there.
31:10Yes, inspector.
31:11Yes, sir.
31:12So, yes, caller, thanks for the call.
31:14And you're quite right to suggest that the subtle exchanger currency at a parlor may be just what it is.
31:25Because we have bigger issues in the environment to see about in terms of the larger amount creating a situation where there isn't any legitimate use.
31:38So, yes, your concern is noted, sir.
31:41And we are looking into that as a larger investigation together with our brothers and sisters of the Financial Intelligence Bureau, the Financial Intelligence Branch, and the FIU as a regulatory body.
31:54We are looking into that.
31:55Yes.
31:56We have another call on the line.
31:58Caller, good evening.
31:59Yes, good afternoon, gentlemen.
32:02Good evening, sir.
32:03Good evening, sir.
32:04Yes.
32:05I want to speak about the U.S. currency and also about the crime that is taking place at this present moment.
32:17Now, the foreign currency is that righteousness exalts a nation but sinners are reproached.
32:24We are going around.
32:26Me, I, and myself must have a certain amount and no one else.
32:31So the circle is between me, I, and myself because of greed.
32:36Righteousness.
32:37No one willing to do the right thing in order to get what is right.
32:42Going to the crime now, if you could go back a little, down into 2010.
32:52Around that time when they stopped all corporate punishment in school, by the children that grew up from that time, generation to generation, we are reaping the harvest that we plant.
33:06And from that time to now, parents have no control over children anymore.
33:11Children become the parent in the home.
33:16Mommy, what are you telling me?
33:18Daddy, what are you telling me?
33:19You all have your life to live.
33:21I have mine to live.
33:22They're robbing and they're thieving because what?
33:25At that time, they sent out thousands of children out of school because what?
33:30No control.
33:31Parents have no control over those children.
33:34And this is the problem today.
33:37We are reaping what we sow down that road.
33:39Bless you.
33:42Thank you very much, Kola, for that.
33:45And, yes, we are seeing what is going on now because of indiscipline, and it starts from a very long time.
33:53So I want to suggest corporate punishment by itself may not be able to solve the problem so that we have to look at the good parenting.
34:02We have to look at the community getting involved in this and teaching the younger ones, even the young adults,
34:12and those who are being influenced to join gangs and so on.
34:16Listen to me.
34:17The churches, the community, they must and they have to get involved to deal with this matter.
34:26Yes, corporate punishment by itself might work, but it's not the only solution to this.
34:32We all have to get involved and deal with this before it gets even worse than this.
34:39Yes?
34:40I know this for XSU.
34:42It's a very, you know, a lot of people are very passionate.
34:46A lot of people are passionate about it because, of course, we know there are certain sectors of the community,
34:52business community, that tends to get more than, you know, average man can.
34:55And if you go to the bank, the bank will sometimes tell you, okay, put in a request.
35:00You'll probably get $100 in a week's time.
35:03So maybe if you're going on a holiday, you'll have to make a six months before you go to that holiday so you can gather up enough money for spending, that is,
35:11because you already have constraints from the banks and the credit card side as well.
35:16Of course.
35:17I am.
35:18We all know what the environment is financially, and it's not only here.
35:22It's a global kind of thing.
35:25So, unfortunately, that is what we have to deal with.
35:28And, yes, so there will come a time when there might be a ease in getting that sort of thing.
35:36So it's the other currencies as well.
35:38I understand the British pound sometimes.
35:41It's a stretch to get that.
35:43Euro.
35:44So it's not just the U.S. currency.
35:46I mean, we tend to go to the U.S. a lot.
35:48So we are asking, because of the environment, it's not just this place only, but it's a global business, I understand.
35:57Well, we are hopeful and optimistic that that problem will, in the not-too-distant future, be solved so that more citizens can get access to Forex.
36:08Sure.
36:09We're going to take a short break, and we'll be back.
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39:30Welcome back to Beyond the Tape, I'm your host Mark Wilson and joined today by inspector
39:39Damian Thomas from the Fraud Squad and we have been talking about that Forex issue but we
39:47just wanted to shift gears a little bit and we want to show you a video that is not local
39:53But it certainly is a lesson to those would-be bandits out there. Take a look.
40:08So with this headed, a sailor comes into the store, points a firearm at the guy behind the till there.
40:21Tells him to empty out the cash. He complies of course, inspector.
40:30He puts the money into his pocket and he's stealing stuff from the showcase as well, which he'll put into his pocket as well.
40:39And continues to empty the till. Another guy that comes there and then of course this is what happens.
40:49So clearly he didn't realize that the shop owner or the employee who has access to a firearm, he shot and he's lying on the ground.
41:09Is this what you want to end up like? Those bandits looking out there, inspector.
41:15Similar, we see things like this happen right in Trinidad and Tobago.
41:20Yes sir.
41:23Any lessons to those out there looking on?
41:27Well, we hope that the message from this video resonates with them.
41:32Because I said it before, if you continue along that line of crime and criminality, two places you could end up.
41:39In the prison or dead.
41:42So what is amazing in this video is I saw the calmness of the individual.
41:48He complied with the instructions of these bandits and then he went into action.
41:56So very good. That is part of it.
42:00That's part of it. Occupational hazard.
42:03So if you're a bandit, this is what could happen to you.
42:06The tables are turned.
42:08Yes.
42:09They flip the script on him.
42:12I'm amazed at his composure. He didn't panic at all.
42:17He complied and then he reacted.
42:20All right. And speaking about crime, of course, today is the final day of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
42:30And I know that the gender-based unit has been going around over the last couple of days.
42:37Some December. It was earlier in November.
42:40Yes.
42:41Today is the last day. Any sentiments you want to share?
42:44Well, certainly gender-based violence continues to rise.
42:49So we are thankful for the community who engaged us.
42:55To stand by the police station on the weekend, right?
42:58And kudos to the gender-based violence unit for this initiative.
43:04I've endorsed this from earlier this year.
43:07So it is really nice to see this.
43:11And we must try to eradicate this gender-based violence in this society.
43:17It is not accepted.
43:19And so we continue to send the message, continue to educate the weaker ones in society who is bent on committing this violence against women, men, children, et cetera.
43:31So we look forward to continued support from the community.
43:35We must partner with the communities, the NGOs, to eradicate that sort of thing.
43:40Yes. And the community engagement and involvement is extremely important if we are to get gender-based violence down to zero.
43:49You know, and it's too many, you know, women, not just women, but, you know, they have children as well as men sometimes suffer the brunt.
43:57But the majority is, of course, women in our society.
44:01And we've had a couple of women who died due to gender-based violence during the course of this year.
44:08And, you know, our heartfelt condolences to their families because of the situation.
44:14Yes.
44:15And we hope for that next year we would not have situations like that to deal with.
44:20Of course, Mark.
44:21And I'm saying that we have to reach out to the men, younger men, even the older men, and let them know to cherish the women in our society.
44:28You know, they are here for a reason.
44:31We have to treat them as they deserve to be treated without violence.
44:35So part of this whole structure of getting the message is to talk to the men because, as you said, women are the victims in most cases.
44:45So we have to reach out to our young men and the older ones, even from a young age, respect the women in their lives.
44:51Yeah, certainly.
44:53Because, you know, if you inculcate that from a young age into these children, they will obviously heed to that call.
45:00We have a call on the line.
45:01Caller, good evening.
45:04Good evening, caller.
45:07I love that video.
45:08I love that video.
45:09So what is happening here is the state has to allow businessmen and the ordinary citizens who qualify, who don't have domestic problems, and all these things to get a legal firearm.
45:21Lots of businessmen's lives are in danger.
45:24They cannot get a firearm.
45:25And so the pests are going to come and rob them.
45:28So what will happen now?
45:31They're going to get illegal firearm businesses and wait for the bandits.
45:35And when the bandits come, bust them in the tail.
45:37Kill all of them.
45:40Thanks a lot, caller.
45:42We certainly don't want to endorse getting an illegal firearm as a businessman.
45:46I remember many years ago, I did an investigative story about that and where businessmen were having difficulty, of course, securing a licensed firearm.
45:55Yes.
45:56Which led them to buy or purchase an illegal firearm.
45:59And that's something, a practice, of course, we would not want to encourage.
46:03Yes.
46:04And I agree.
46:05I endorse that message.
46:06I concur with you.
46:07Everybody wants a firearm.
46:09So having a firearm in your possession, it's an added responsibility.
46:14It's an added responsibility.
46:16So, yes, we, the commissioner probably wants to give everybody a firearm.
46:20But that is impractical.
46:23We have a number of processes one has to go through.
46:25So, yes, we have to look at that closely.
46:30When you get a firearm, what you are required to do, because we have cases where persons are losing their firearms and all these things.
46:38So those are things we must consider very strenuously before a license is granted for a firearm.
46:46Yes, we understand the environment.
46:49But we have to take a closer look at some individuals who are applying for these firearms.
46:54Yes, because, as you said, there's a psychometric test.
46:58You have to come to your compound and see exactly where you live, if you can secure the firearm.
47:04I'm just giving the basics, of course, and ensure that you have some mind, body, and soul.
47:09And you have to speak to, if you are married, your spouse, or who lives with you, to do a general assessment about your mental condition, your psychological condition, etc.
47:20And we know there have been instances in the past where people would have gotten firearms and used it to do harm to others.
47:28There was an incident, I think, two years ago in Arima, if you remember.
47:32Yes, I recall.
47:33At a house.
47:34It started at the beginning of 2022, I remember.
47:36Yes, I recall.
47:37I think it was three or four people were shot and killed, yes?
47:39Yes.
47:40So even more so, the investigation process, the vetting process, to issue a firearm license has to be very serious, as I said.
47:51It must be in-depth and thorough as possible, especially the psychometric part of it.
47:59Yes.
48:00The psychometric part of it.
48:02So we want to hold those, to account those persons who are offering psychometric.
48:08Be true to thyselves.
48:10If you do a thorough analysis of an individual who wants a firearm, who is in need of a firearm, please, we are asking you, please do what is right in terms of proper assessment of that individual.
48:23Don't go through the back door and try to get a firearm by paying somebody who you think that they could get through, and so on.
48:30And I know that some businessmen out there have had a number of run-ins with criminals, and they would have made an application and, of course, been turned down.
48:41Yes.
48:42And then they would have gone and had another incident or two.
48:45I don't know what's the reasoning, of course, but I'm hopeful that under the new process and everything that is happening behind the scenes, because we know there's something going on with that unit right now.
48:55Yes, of course.
48:56They're now starting to open back up.
48:57Yes.
48:58Following a number of inquiries.
48:59Yes.
49:00So I don't want to be presumptuous.
49:01I know that incident investigations are still afoot with, you know, in terms of how some people might have acquired firearms in the last couple of years.
49:11Yes.
49:12And I know that it's still ongoing.
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51:41Welcome back to Beyond the Tape.
51:42I'm your host, Mark Bessant, joined today by Inspector Damian Thomas from the Fraud Squad Division.
51:48And we wanted to just touch quickly on those online investment scams.
51:55Yes, sir.
51:56So we have been having a very troubling uptick, obviously, in reports associated with that kind of fraud.
52:05So what we're here to do today is to let you know the nature of this thing, what you need to do.
52:11The persons on the social media platforms, they reach out to, obviously, so many more vulnerable people.
52:18And they advertise some investment, very high returns, the risk very low.
52:24And then they create fake profiles and all these things.
52:27And they put a little added pressure on you by saying, if you do not take advantage of this opportunity, you will lose it.
52:34So that you may want to invest, and they tell you to invest $100,000.
52:38You might end up with $600,000 in a short time.
52:41Very unrealistic.
52:42Very unrealistic.
52:43And what they do, they build your trust by the same $100,000 that you're getting.
52:50They might pay you $20,000 out of that same $100,000.
52:55And by the time you know it, you're looking for the further returns.
52:59They disappear on you.
53:00So it's a revolving door kind of thing.
53:02It is.
53:03So we're asking the people, especially those who are in receipt of the gratuity of their pension or any lump sum payment, and you're looking to invest, be wary of these people who are on those sites seeking to defraud you.
53:19Right?
53:20If you want any other information or further information on fraud, especially investment fraud, the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission website will tell you exactly what to look for.
53:34And if you ever become a victim of that, please reach out to that.
53:37But prevention is always better than cure.
53:39I always say that on this program.
53:41So even before you reach out to any investment group on the social media site, please reach out to the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission.
53:50They will advise in terms of if it is registered or if it is not and what you need to do further.
53:56Based on your information, how much kinds of schemes that presently exist in Trinidad and Tobago that you all know of?
54:04Well, many.
54:05In excess of 20.
54:07We have 20 groups who operate syndicates, and the objective is one thing, to get the hard-earned money from you.
54:14Yeah?
54:15Sometimes we recognize that they just change the name of the profile when it's the same group of people operating.
54:21Yes?
54:22So we have to be very wary of that.
54:24When you have the grandchildren, your young adults, please let them know about the investment.
54:30So if you can't check, they will be able to check for you and advise you further.
54:34Inspector, I recall, without calling anybody's name, there was a gentleman for quite a long time on social media saying he's making money,
54:43and he's showing you these vehicles he buys, and he's donating money to people and telling people, you know, invest and so on.
54:50And then I think about two or three months ago, there were a lot of people on his page saying that you owe money to us, we want our money.
54:58And I think he virtually disappeared from the social media platform.
55:03Yes.
55:04Do you recall that?
55:05Of course I do, and I will tell you this.
55:07They build your trust.
55:09They build your trust by saying all sorts of things.
55:13They offer all these things, and obviously one would want to make more because you're not working anymore,
55:21so you want a nice investment to bring an excellent profit for you.
55:26You see that process that you now described?
55:30That is exactly what they use.
55:32And before you know it, you can't find them.
55:35All right.
55:36Unfortunately, we have to leave it there for now, but we just want you all to be mindful.
55:40Those online schemes and investments, please check with the Trinidad and Tobago Security Exchange before doing any kind of business.
55:49All right?
55:51Okay.
55:52We run tonight at 11.30.
55:53Repeat tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
55:55The TV6 News is up next.
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