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03:40Welcome to Beyond the Tape.
03:42Welcome Trinidad and Tobago and of course our viewers across the globe.
03:46I certainly hope you all had a great Easter weekend.
03:49And of course on Easter morning the very sad news of Pope Francis passing.
03:55And millions across the world of course paying their respect to Pope Francis on his passing.
04:03And you know certainly the Archbishop here described him as a lost.
04:08They have lost a true shepherd.
04:09So definitely today we have with us as we continue our discussion about fraud.
04:17We have with us Sergeant Vinal Bassarat.
04:20Also a tenient law from the Fraud Score Department.
04:23Welcome sir.
04:24How are you?
04:24I am good.
04:25Thanks for having me today Mark.
04:26Thanks sir.
04:27So I know that in the last couple of weeks or rather months you all have had a troubling trend developing with fraudsters using various links to capture their prayer so to speak.
04:44Yes, over the last couple of weeks we have observed a trend where fraudsters are now using SMS messages to send links for unsuspective citizens indicating their accounts have been compromised.
04:59Now these links transcend to banks and also credit unions.
05:02And once you click on those links it gives them access to your online accounts and of course within minutes the account is reined.
05:12So institutions have publicized, they have asked, they have appealed to members of the public.
05:18Do not click on any links.
05:19The banks, the credit unions, they do not use links to communicate with their customers.
05:24Once you see a link appear, verify.
05:28Verify from your institutions if this is really a genuine link and from there, you know, so due diligence all the way Mark.
05:37What would you recommend or suggest to persons?
05:39You know, because as we were having an off-the-camera discussion prior, I got a text a couple of days ago and of course it said click on a link.
05:48I had the, but if you looked at the spelling, it was missing one letter.
05:53Yes.
05:53And I knew ultimately that, or automatically that it was a fraudulent link in some nature and I just deleted the text message altogether.
06:01But what does some of you tell the details?
06:03You'd want to educate the public on when it comes to, of course, not just that particular kind of fraud, but others that are similar in nature.
06:12Well, basically Mark, and sadly I also got a link about two weeks ago.
06:15Imagine that on my phone, right?
06:18So exactly what you said, Mark, you examined the link carefully.
06:22I'm just saying, if it is that you're looking at a particular bank, and we wouldn't call any names, look at the spelling.
06:29Look at the spelling of the bank.
06:30Sometimes they may try to spell real.
06:33Yes.
06:33Instead of R-E-A-L, R-E and leave out the A.
06:37Yes.
06:38So those are little small telltale signs that you can look at.
06:41Again, banks do not use links.
06:45That should be the red flag.
06:46The immediate red flag.
06:48So once you get a link in your SMS, which is your messages.
06:52Yes.
06:53One of the two things.
06:54One, do like what you did.
06:56Consider it false.
06:58Delete.
06:59One time.
06:59Or if you're in doubt, contact your home branch.
07:03Verify.
07:04And I'm certain once you contact your home branch, they are going to tell you, listen, that link is false.
07:10So it's just about communication with your particular institution.
07:14And like I said, if you get a link, and sometimes you get links on a Friday afternoon where the banks are closed, don't be alarmed.
07:21Don't be alarmed.
07:22Wait until Monday morning or some of the institutions have credit card centers and so on.
07:2624 hours, call, you know, and just verify.
07:31The key word here is verify those links.
07:34And once you verify, you have no problem at all.
07:36And what kind of monies, if you can give an estimation, that persons who have fallen prey to this kind of activity by these fraudsters, let's say within the last three months or so, because I know it's a pretty recent trend now picking up speed, if you can't share some of the figures, that persons would have lost in terms of money and so on to this scheme.
07:58Well, Mark, I will tell you this much.
08:02The figures range, and range from maybe what we may call minimal to maximum.
08:08But I am saying, if someone has only $10,000 in their account, and you take $10,000, that is a lifetime of savings.
08:16Right.
08:17So to give you a direct figure, I do apologize.
08:21I don't have all the figures today.
08:22Yeah, yeah.
08:23But it is, how would I put this?
08:26It is alarming to the forescore, and by extension, by the TTPS, because of the easy manner in which the fraudsters are getting these persons to click the link, and then, of course, being able to get into their online banking and take whatever they desire.
08:41Well, I see you have some statistics there.
08:43I don't know if you could just give us a, I guess, a general breakdown of some of the things or the trends that you all have seen in referencing this particular, you know, this activity or others that are similar in nature.
08:56Well, I will put it this way.
08:57So far, the online reports we spoke about, right, and this is just for the period, January 1st to the 11th of April, which is a May three and a half months.
09:09So the TT value we have lost so far is 8 million, 8.7 million.
09:13Wow.
09:14And U.S., 151,000 U.S., right?
09:19In ABM fraud, we have a total of almost $900,000 being lost to forescores.
09:27Loan fraud is an interesting one, 1.4 million.
09:30Land property fraud, 1.7 million.
09:33Motor vehicles, 63,000.
09:36And this one is very interesting.
09:39Investment fraud, 2.1 million.
09:41Now, you talked about loan fraud, yes?
09:45Yes.
09:45And I'm a little bit curious because, you know, a lot of people have loans, right?
09:48Yes.
09:48And what does, how do they actually take money out of a loan that belongs to somebody?
09:54Well, interestingly, those who have loans, like you and I, we are safe because every month we pay our loans.
10:00So these loan frauds are fraudsters who design and develop and create fraudulent documents, be it job letters, pay slips.
10:09Okay.
10:10They may go so far to get, you know, utility bills and so on.
10:15And they will apply for the loans.
10:16And these documents sometimes are so good that, Mark, they obtain the loans.
10:22And, of course, when they obtain the loans, they are no repayment.
10:26So you find the syndicate may hire a particular runner, as we say.
10:32And they want to see the person who will go and present these documents.
10:35And if the loan is 100,000, Mark, they get $3,000, $4,000 for putting their face there.
10:41But the whole thing about it is that once the institutions facilitate the loan, the monies that they get, that is their profit.
10:48And there is no repayment of those loans.
10:50What is worrying is that you talked about a particular trend of just over $8 million lost in just a three-month period or three-and-a-half-month period.
11:01My question is, and I think a lot of people will be interested, to kind of, you know, add that flow, that hemorrhaging.
11:09I know you will probably have to work very closely with CyberUnit.
11:13Correct.
11:14And how has that, you know, translated into successes in trying to stem this hemorrhaging of monies lost to the various avenues by these fraudsters?
11:25Well, I can say this much.
11:27Under the stewardship of our senior supermister, Jackman, and guidance from our supermister, Anna Lodgeman, we have been able to lay 115 charges for the year.
11:36Now, it may not sound like much, but when you consider three months and a half and the force code as a singular unit, being able to prefer charges, 115.
11:46Now, it is not perhaps a detection we will like, but, Mark, it is a good start.
11:54Yeah?
11:54Yeah, and so this is the way, in conjunction with the FIB and conjunction with the ACIB, the entire white-collar division, is a coordinated collaborative event, right?
12:06And what is more importantly is that now we are looking at charging for money laundering, so.
12:13All right.
12:13So we will definitely continue this discussion a little later, but we definitely want to go to our headlines.
12:19Thank you very much.
12:46Bye-bye.
12:47Bye-bye.
12:47Bye-bye.
12:49All right, those were the headlines over the last 24 hours.
12:57And, of course, this morning, the homicide rate went up by 2.
13:02The unfortunate killing of a father and son captured here on CCC TV footage in the Kunupia area in Mount Pleasant Road there.
13:12The deceased identified as Anthony Joseph, 43, and Vicky, his son, 20 years, and I think another relative was also injured, opening fire on their vehicle.
13:25You're seeing the gunmen at the top of the screen there, or the right of the screen.
13:29And really unfortunate, having read the online articles, this happened around 6.15 this morning, Sergeant.
13:37And clearly, when I read one of these stories, it spoke about this family, this particular family, for the last two years have been trying to escape from threats.
13:49They left the St. Augustine area, you know, look at the vehicle, shot up by the persons, the suspects, and clearly gun violence again wearing its ugly head.
14:01I agree, Mark. It is alarming. It is alarming.
14:07The present attacks by these criminal elements, I mean, during the course of the SOE, under the guidance of our commissioner, Mr. Junior Benjamin,
14:17law enforcement was able to take over 200 guns off the streets, illegal firearms.
14:22Yes.
14:23However, again, although that was a landmark in such a short space of time, under Mr. Benjamin's stewardship, it still, apparently, is still not enough.
14:35Yeah, you see, the vehicle is blocked, and of course, you know, the gunman comes out, and they virtually have no chance to escape,
14:42because it's a mere couple of feet, they're shot at probably very close range, point-blown range, yes, and then they escape in this vehicle, coming down that road there, Mont Pleasant Road.
14:57So certainly, we hope that those suspects will be caught in the shortest possible time, and we know that, you know, homicide is overburdened with, you know, so many other cases,
15:06cases, but we're hopeful that anybody with information will reach out to the relevant authorities, and obviously send any information to them.
15:17We also had the unfortunate murder of, over the last couple of days, of a nurse by the name of Odell Lalman-Baptiste,
15:26along the Carlson Field Road, a really, really sad story, her husband stopping on the side of the road to relieve himself,
15:34and suspects came up armed, allegedly robbed him, and drove off with the vehicle, with his wife in it,
15:44and, you know, there was a chase, obviously, a call was made, the police intercepted the vehicle in the Arima area, if memory serves me right,
15:52and one of the suspects was shot dead, the other escaped.
15:55Yes.
15:56They did not find her body until a while after, in an area in Carlson Field, with several stab wounds, and her body dumped.
16:03But, clearly, something is very strange about this whole situation.
16:09And, I agree, I agree, Mark, but at the end of the day, not to prejudice any part of the investigation.
16:15Of course not, yes.
16:16We will wait and see, you know, what evidence comes about.
16:20But, again, any loss of life, any loss of life, it's a sad state for this country.
16:25Any loss of life, and especially to die like that.
16:28Yes, yes, really sad.
16:31All right, we're going to take a short break, and we'll be back.
16:34Stay with us.
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19:15Welcome back to Beyond the TV.
19:29I'm your host, Mark Boussaint, joined today by Sergeant Passerath of the Fraud Squad and also attorney at Law.
19:36And we know over the last couple of months, we've had the state of emergency.
19:41And under Acting Commissioner Junior Benjamin, you know, he led a number of these officers through teamwork, strategy, and intelligence.
19:50You know, making large drug seizures.
19:53Also, you know, catch of illegal weapons and so on.
19:57So we just want to take a look back over the last couple of months, the police service and their work.
20:11So we just want to take a look back over the last couple of months.
20:41In 2024, Trinidad and Tobago was placed under a state of emergency.
20:45In response to an unprecedented surge in gang violence and credible intelligence of a wave of planned reprisal killings,
20:53the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, alongside our partners in national security, responded with purpose, precision, and strength.
21:01Under the powers granted through the SOE Regulations 2024, our officers launched a series of targeted operations,
21:09executing hundreds of intelligence-led searches on homes and premises across high-risk communities.
21:15These missions were not random.
21:17They were strategic, designed to root out the core of criminal activity that has long threatened our communities.
21:23The results speak for themselves, and they represent some of the most decisive gains in recent years.
21:29We seized 205 illegal firearms and 4,364 rounds of assorted ammunition,
21:37including high-powered rifles, pistols, and extended magazines.
21:43These were not mere fines.
21:45They were tools of terror, intended for intimidation, violence, and murder.
21:53Every single weapon recovered is one less opportunity for bloodshed.
21:58Every bullet taken off the street is one life potentially saved.
22:03When we look at the murder toll, as of Sunday, 13 April, 2025, we recorded 112 homicides,
22:10while for the same period in 2024, there were 160 homicides and 166 in 2023.
22:18The contrast is stark.
22:20That is, 48 fewer lives lost, and many families and friends spared the pain of mourning a loved one.
22:26This drop is not a coincidence.
22:28It is a direct result of the bold, relentless policing strategy implemented under the SOE.
22:34On the narcotics front, the seizures were nothing short of historic.
22:38We intercepted over $350 million worth of cocaine,
22:42tightly concealed and bound for international and local distribution.
22:45We removed $136 million worth of marijuana from illicit networks.
22:50These drugs fuel gang wars, destroy families, and erode the fabric of our communities.
22:56By choking and disrupting their supply chains, we struck deep into the heart of criminal economies,
23:00hitting them back where it hurts, their pockets.
23:04During the SOE, we seized 1,757,879.2 grams of marijuana,
23:163,759.27 grams of cocaine,
23:20and 89.83 grams of ecstasy.
23:25And perhaps most critically, 4,061 individuals were arrested.
23:30We targeted 3,561 priority offenders and known gang affiliates,
23:36the very individuals responsible for orchestrating violence,
23:39trafficking arms and drugs,
23:41and recruiting our nation's youth into a life of crime.
23:44These arrests were not by chance.
23:47They were the result of painstaking intelligence work, surveillance, and coordination.
23:53Each one is a decisive disruption to organized criminal enterprise.
23:57These numbers aren't just statistics.
23:59They are victories,
24:00clear signs that the state of emergency was effective, targeted, and necessary.
24:05But these gains did not come without sacrifice.
24:09Many of our officers were called out from their vacation leave.
24:12Long hours, high-stress, dangerous operations,
24:15time away from families.
24:17Our officers stood tall in service to this nation.
24:19As your commissioner,
24:22I commend the officers who answered the call
24:25to protect and to serve with pride.
24:28We extend deepest gratitude
24:30to the men and women of the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force
24:34who stood shoulder to shoulder with us through this period.
24:38Together, we created a blanket of security across the country,
24:43a presence that the criminals could not ignore.
24:47I want to express my heartfelt thanks
24:51to every law-abiding citizen
24:53who stood with us during this critical period.
24:57We know that the state of emergency
24:59brought with it tension, disruption, and moments of discomfort.
25:05But you knew that behind every patrol,
25:07every search, every operation
25:10was a single purpose, your safety.
25:14This fight has never been ours alone.
25:16It has always been ours together.
25:19The state of emergency concluded on Sunday, 13th April.
25:22But our mission continues.
25:24The TTPS is now advancing into Phase 2 of our strategy,
25:28Sustained Pressure.
25:29This includes continued operations
25:32targeting gang leaders and their networks,
25:34expansion of intelligence-led policing units,
25:37enhanced partnership with communities
25:39to build trust and break the silence,
25:41and greater use of technology and data
25:44to anticipate and intercept criminal activity.
25:47We are not letting up.
25:49We are building on the momentum of the SOE
25:51to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago
25:53is a safe space for all law-abiding citizens.
25:57To the people of Trinidad and Tobago,
25:59you deserve to feel safe in your homes,
26:02in your communities, and in your daily lives.
26:05The state of emergency has proven one thing.
26:08We can turn the tide.
26:10And we will keep turning it
26:11and doing all that is within our power
26:14to fight crime and to keep you safe.
26:18And it's a significant amount of work
26:26that the TTPS would have done
26:28over the last three months.
26:30And I think one of the most instrumental things
26:32that we talk about was firearms,
26:34where we had over 200 firearms,
26:36205 firearms, if memory serves me right,
26:40that were seized in that very short period.
26:42Yes.
26:42And in terms of on a yearly basis,
26:44sometimes you don't even reach that amount.
26:47Correct, correct.
26:47So we are hopeful that this will just be
26:51the beginning, of course,
26:52of more firearms being removed
26:56from the nation's homes or wherever it might be,
27:00as well as other illicit contraband
27:02and those that are responsible for it.
27:04And Mark, I'll tell you this much.
27:06And there's over 4,000 rungs of ammunition also.
27:10Yes.
27:11And tonight I want to give a special recognition
27:14to our commissioner, Mr. Benjamin.
27:17He took over the reins when the SOE was in full swing.
27:22Yes.
27:22And because of his motivation and his guidance,
27:26it aided our officers in understanding our mandate
27:29and actually going out there and do what we required to do.
27:33And in furtherance, Carnival was in the midst of that SOE.
27:37Yes, it was.
27:38And we had a safe capital.
27:39And on the heels of Carnival, we have a general election.
27:43So, I mean, kudos to the commissioner for managing the resources the way he did,
27:48you know, motivating the staff.
27:49And I think based on the results that the commissioner spoke about,
27:54that clearly, clearly shows his leadership style
27:56and, you know, the rewards of that leadership style
28:00that we are getting there, slowly but surely.
28:02As I said, it was a very difficult period to come in, you know,
28:06because you had, as you said, the state of emergency.
28:08Yes.
28:09And then we had that handover where he had to come in as the acting commissioner.
28:12And then he had to deal with Carnival
28:14and then all these other things happening in between.
28:16As I said, it was a delicate balance in hand,
28:19but certainly a very tough one.
28:20But I think, you know, he did well enough.
28:22Yes, kudos to all commissioner.
28:23All right.
28:24We're going to take a short break and we'll be back.
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31:23Welcome back to Beyond the Table.
31:24I'm your host, Mark Bussan,
31:25joined today by Sergeant Basarath
31:27of the Fraud Squad
31:28and, of course,
31:29Atini at Law.
31:31We want to remind you of the numbers
31:32to call 623-1711,
31:35extensions 1996 and 1997.
31:39So we had this video
31:40that popped up on social media
31:42over the weekend.
31:43We're not sure of its authenticity
31:46or how long ago it was,
31:49but let's just take a look.
31:54So I know that I had seen
31:58an article yesterday,
32:01I believe,
32:01in yesterday's newspaper
32:02about the acting commissioner,
32:06Benjamin,
32:06making remarks about this video
32:09where it's alleged
32:11that two uniformed police officers
32:13seen in a particular bar,
32:16I don't know if it was
32:16old or new,
32:19but he did say
32:21that they were looking into it,
32:24they were investigating
32:25this matter,
32:26and clearly,
32:27if what we see there
32:29is not acceptable
32:31because you're in uniform,
32:34you're also having
32:35a beverage
32:36and a brown bag,
32:37I don't think you would be
32:39very proud of seeing
32:40your colleagues
32:41in this setting
32:43with your uniformed zone.
32:45Well,
32:45our code of conduct
32:46as police officers
32:47dictate that
32:49if this behavior
32:50is really true,
32:52this is not the behavior
32:53we want to tolerate
32:54from our officers.
32:56And,
32:56of course,
32:57like you said,
32:58I don't know,
32:59I think ETTPS
33:00is trying to clarify
33:01right now
33:02whether this is
33:03an old video,
33:04you know,
33:04whether it's something
33:05that has happened
33:05in the past
33:06that has been dealt with,
33:07or so the commissioner
33:08is right to see
33:09that an investigation
33:09will take place, Mark.
33:11And definitely,
33:12I know that
33:13this is something
33:14that the commissioner
33:15and the executive
33:16is not going to tolerate.
33:18So,
33:19I am hoping
33:20that the investigation
33:21concludes soon
33:22and, of course,
33:23members of the public
33:24could be advised.
33:26Yeah?
33:27Yeah,
33:27and I know you said
33:28the active commissioner
33:29also said
33:29that there's a
33:30zero-tolerance policy
33:31as you indicated
33:32for such behavior
33:34by officers.
33:34Correct.
33:35Yes, sir.
33:35All right,
33:35I think we have a call
33:36on the line.
33:37Caller,
33:37good evening.
33:39Good evening,
33:40good evening,
33:40Mr. Mark Bassant
33:42and Sergeant Bassarat.
33:45So,
33:46welcome to the program.
33:48Thank you, sir.
33:48Two issues
33:49I want to address
33:50and I'm going to open it
33:53by saying
33:53to protect
33:54and serve with pride.
33:55That is the TTPS motto.
33:58And how are we doing
34:00from the vantage
34:02of a citizen
34:02of a citizen
34:03like myself?
34:04Yesterday,
34:06it was on the newspaper.
34:08Today,
34:09you all have highlighted
34:10a judge
34:12was hacked.
34:14His phone was hacked.
34:16Let us go back
34:17to November
34:192023
34:22when TSTT
34:25had a massive data breach.
34:27I want to know
34:29what the police
34:30has done with that
34:31because if we connect
34:33the two
34:34from a gentleman
34:36like me
34:37who had no inside information,
34:39I would ask
34:40the very difficult question.
34:43Have any of that
34:44TSTT data breach
34:45linked
34:47to the judge's
34:49phone hack?
34:51because if you're
34:53following all the information
34:55is that
34:55is a lot of
34:56personal information
34:58was
34:59I think
35:00was six gigabytes
35:01from TSTT
35:02with a lot of
35:03personal.
35:04I want to know
35:05what the
35:06TPS
35:07was doing
35:08with respect
35:08to investigating
35:09that
35:10and bringing
35:11the perpetrators
35:12to justice.
35:14That was outside.
35:15The second thing
35:16is
35:16and this is
35:17where
35:18I open
35:19with
35:19protect
35:21and serve
35:21with pride.
35:23From my vantage,
35:24it appears
35:25that there is
35:26and I'm using
35:28quotes and
35:28quotes
35:29a catfight
35:30within the
35:31executive
35:32of the
35:32TPS
35:33that is
35:34damaging
35:34my confidence
35:36in the
35:37police service.
35:41Two years ago
35:42or 18 months ago
35:43a judge makes
35:44a damning
35:45utterances
35:47on
35:48an issue
35:49with respect
35:50to a gentleman
35:51being abducted
35:52or kidnapped
35:53in Barbados.
35:56The then
35:57commissioner
35:58of police
35:58the
35:59female
36:01commissioner
36:02of police
36:02who
36:02has been
36:04suspended
36:05opened
36:06an investigation
36:07into that
36:09issue
36:10targeting
36:12the person
36:13who
36:14who
36:14the judge
36:15made
36:16some
36:17startling
36:18utterances
36:20on.
36:21That's the
36:21current
36:22DCP
36:24INI.
36:25So the
36:25commissioner
36:25of police
36:26was investigating
36:27that instance
36:28and
36:30coincidentally
36:32six months
36:33after
36:34the commissioner
36:36of police
36:36was suspended
36:37and this
36:38DCPI
36:39INI
36:40is
36:40investigating
36:42to
36:43basically
36:44investigating
36:46the COP
36:46for alleged
36:47some sort
36:48of
36:48untoward
36:49behavior.
36:50So that
36:50in a nutshell
36:51the executive
36:53of the
36:53police
36:53is
36:54very
36:55very
36:55very
36:56questionable
36:57in
36:58respect
36:59of what
36:59they are
37:00doing
37:01and what
37:01leadership
37:02they are
37:03offering
37:04to the
37:04police
37:05service
37:05to move
37:05forward.
37:06I'm listening
37:07to you sir.
37:09Alright
37:09Kola
37:09thanks a lot
37:10and I want
37:11to deal
37:11with the
37:11second
37:12question
37:12because
37:13you're
37:14entitled
37:14to your
37:15opinion
37:15and your
37:16suggestions
37:16or whatever
37:17and of
37:18course
37:18these
37:18matters
37:19are now
37:19before the
37:20court
37:20and it
37:21will be
37:21inappropriate
37:21I believe
37:22even for
37:23the sergeant
37:24being a
37:24member of
37:25the TTPS
37:25to obviously
37:26make any
37:27pronouncement
37:27on that
37:28particular
37:29matter
37:29and of
37:31course
37:31you can
37:31you can
37:32also
37:32articulate
37:33that as
37:33well
37:33and then
37:34you can
37:34pick up
37:34the
37:34second
37:35first
37:35point.
37:36Well I
37:36want to
37:36agree with
37:37you Mark
37:37and I
37:38want to
37:38go further
37:38and say
37:39that
37:40whereas I
37:42cannot argue
37:42with the
37:43caller's
37:43opinion
37:44and perhaps
37:46his
37:46chronological
37:46events
37:47what I
37:48can say
37:48is that
37:49over the
37:49carnival
37:49period
37:51last couple
37:52of weeks
37:52the senior
37:53administration
37:54ATTPS
37:55have worked
37:56hand in
37:56hand
37:56again we
37:58have seen
37:59the results
37:59over 200
38:00firearms
38:01over 4,000
38:02rounds of
38:03ammunition
38:03right
38:04narcotics
38:05being seized
38:05right
38:06exercises being
38:07handled by
38:08police officers
38:09the code of
38:12conduct
38:13being adopted
38:14a new
38:15nonsense policy
38:15so I
38:16am saying
38:16that the
38:17senior
38:17executive
38:17of the
38:18Trinidad
38:18police
38:19is working
38:20together
38:21and it's
38:22only because
38:23of that
38:23cooperation
38:24at the
38:24senior level
38:25juniors like
38:26myself
38:27and others
38:28are allowed
38:29and motivated
38:30to do what
38:30we are required
38:31to do
38:32yeah
38:32with regards
38:34to the
38:34hacking
38:35the first
38:36one yes
38:36I think it was
38:39a very good
38:39point you
38:40raised
38:40during the
38:41TST data
38:42breach
38:42last year
38:44a number
38:45of persons
38:46personal information
38:47phone numbers
38:48etc
38:48were exposed
38:50yes
38:51so what
38:51he's asking
38:52us
38:52the article
38:53in the
38:54newspapers
38:54today
38:54considering
38:55justice
38:56frank
38:56see
38:57it
38:57seemed
38:57that
38:58you know
38:59his phone
38:59was hacked
39:00and he's
39:00asking if
39:01there's any
39:01connectivity
39:02with that
39:02data breach
39:03and this
39:04particular
39:04incident
39:05mark and I
39:06will be very
39:07cautious
39:07yes
39:08and I do
39:08not want to
39:09sound like a
39:09broken record
39:10right
39:11but again
39:12these matters
39:13are under
39:14investigation
39:14yes
39:14right
39:15I can see
39:16that they
39:16are under
39:17investigation
39:17and as
39:18such
39:19it will
39:19be
39:19inappropriate
39:22yes
39:23of me at
39:23this time
39:24to comment
39:24on this
39:25investigation
39:25right
39:26one
39:26being that
39:27I'm not
39:28the investigator
39:28and secondly
39:29this is a
39:29matter which
39:30like I said
39:30is under
39:31investigation
39:31by the
39:32TTPS
39:33and it's
39:34a wait and
39:34see
39:34we'll have
39:35to wait
39:35and see
39:36what is
39:36revealed
39:36from the
39:37investigation
39:37clearly
39:38you know
39:38but it
39:39was a good
39:40question
39:40yes
39:40of course
39:41we really
39:41appreciate
39:42your input
39:43alright
39:43we're going
39:44to take a
39:44short break
39:45and we'll
39:45be back
39:45stay with
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42:10welcome back to Beyond the Tape
42:26I'm your host Mark Moussan
42:27joined today by
42:27Sergeant Basarath
42:28of the Fraud Squad
42:29and Attorney at Law
42:31and we are talking about fraud
42:32of course the numbers to call
42:34if you have a contribution
42:35623-1711
42:37extensions
42:371996 and 1997
42:40and earlier we were speaking about
42:42the fraud
42:45as it relates to links
42:46and clicking and so on
42:47and one of the things
42:48that piqued my curiosity
42:49is that you spoke about
42:50a syndicate operating
42:52has the police been able to
42:55kind of zero in
42:56on some of the locations
42:58where you know
42:59this kind of
43:01this electronic activity
43:02has been happening
43:03is it more in the central area
43:05rather than west
43:06or east
43:08and
43:09is there a pattern
43:10well
43:11I don't want to frighten you
43:13Marko members
43:14of the Republic
43:14but
43:15because of the
43:17the amount of reports
43:18we get
43:19right
43:19it's affecting
43:20the entire Trinidad
43:21and Tobago
43:22right
43:22and when I send a syndicate
43:24yes
43:25a fraudster
43:26is not somebody
43:27who arms himself
43:28with a firearm
43:28and runs in a restaurant
43:30these crimes are well
43:33thought about
43:33they are well planned
43:35they are well orchestrated
43:36and for instance
43:38like if you go with
43:39the clicking
43:39you may have one person
43:41to create
43:42a program
43:43to allow them to
43:44enter the computer program
43:46you may have one person
43:48account being used
43:49as the instrument of the fraud
43:51to transfer that money
43:52and then you have a third person
43:54now
43:54to withdraw that money
43:55from the account
43:56that has been transferred
43:57so when you look at it
43:58it is multifaceted
44:00yes
44:01right
44:01the different aspects
44:02of the fraud
44:03are so specialized
44:04that each of them
44:05have their own skill
44:06their own particular
44:08job aspect
44:09as you say
44:10right
44:10and this is why
44:11we use the word syndicate
44:12to show that
44:13listen
44:13this is not a singular action
44:15by one person
44:15these are groups
44:17that are operating
44:18in 2015
44:202016
44:21the fraud squad
44:22actively
44:23pursued
44:25cases
44:25with AMB fraud
44:27and credit card fraud
44:27yes
44:28and we were able
44:30we were able
44:31to tap
44:33and arrest
44:34several international players
44:36right
44:37outside of our jurisdiction
44:39of course
44:39right
44:40I will not name countries
44:40but
44:41yes
44:41and this is where we learned
44:43that persons may come
44:44into the country
44:45and one person will come
44:47set up
44:48and leave
44:48but then a second person
44:50will do this
44:50and this is how it is
44:52so it is very multifaceted
44:54it affects the entire country
44:56right
44:57I am unaware
44:59if Tobago has been hit
45:00so hard as Trinidad
45:00as yet
45:01but to say that
45:03we have a particular location
45:04I would say no matter
45:05but what you can say
45:05is that
45:06persons are being targeted
45:07throughout the breadth
45:09of Trinidad
45:10to be able
45:10all right
45:11I think we have a caller
45:12on the line
45:13caller
45:13good evening
45:14hello
45:15good evening guys
45:16good evening sir
45:17I'm a little quick question
45:18the police still have initiative
45:21about say something
45:22if you see something
45:23say something
45:24right
45:24yes
45:26I want to know
45:27if that applies
45:28to the police as well
45:30because
45:31like in my area
45:32where I live
45:33right
45:33there's about
45:34three police officers
45:35in the same area
45:37right now
45:38everybody in the area
45:39I know where the job blocks
45:40are
45:40through the criminals
45:41through the bandits
45:42are
45:43right
45:43but they want the citizens
45:45to call and report
45:46but the police
45:47aren't even in the same area
45:49know the same thing
45:50I want to know
45:51why they are not doing anything
45:52right
45:53so I want to listen up
45:54that's what you say
45:55sir
45:55I'm sorry
45:56caller
45:57sergeant
45:58and that is a very good question
46:00and I will answer like this
46:02all police officers mark
46:04are citizens
46:05of this country
46:06so as a police officer
46:08we have a citizen responsibility
46:10and more so
46:11we have a duty of care
46:12so as citizens
46:12because we are police officers
46:14if that is indeed happening
46:16it is
46:17I'm starting to hear that
46:19but like I said
46:20all police officers
46:21owe a duty
46:23of care to the public
46:23and whether the information
46:25comes from citizens
46:26police officers
46:28the TTPS
46:29we welcome any information
46:31and of course
46:31we will look into it
46:32yeah
46:33I mean it's troubling
46:34he speaks about three officers
46:36living in a particular location
46:38yes
46:38where there's allegedly
46:40illicit activity happening
46:42drug blocks being run
46:44and so on
46:44and while citizens
46:46are being encouraged
46:47to call in
46:48they would expect that
46:49because you have officers
46:51in that area
46:51they would expect that
46:52they would try
46:53in some way
46:54to apprehend these persons
46:56or even report them
46:58that maybe other persons
46:59could come
46:59from another jurisdiction
47:01if that is not
47:02their jurisdiction
47:03but they just live there
47:04to do something
47:05and Mark
47:06I will go further
47:07to say
47:07never let
47:09somebody else
47:10action or inaction
47:11cause you
47:12or hinder you
47:13in doing what you think
47:15is right
47:15so even if you observe
47:17officers failing
47:18to do what
47:19he think is right
47:20you step up
47:21and you be that citizen
47:23to help Sri Lanka to be go
47:24good advice
47:25alright we have another
47:26caller in line
47:26caller good evening
47:27yes sir good evening
47:29this is the first time
47:30caller calling from Sophia
47:31welcome
47:32yes city officer
47:34with regards to fraud
47:36I don't know if this is
47:37under his category
47:38but a couple years ago
47:40I made an investment
47:41and I got returns annually
47:45on the third year
47:47I asked for my capital back
47:50and well the third year
47:52was in 2021
47:53we in 2024
47:54and up to now
47:55who received back
47:57my capital
47:59could just be
48:00under the category of fraud
48:02because the
48:02investors will be given
48:04the asset around
48:05where do you live
48:08caller
48:09Separia
48:09yes sir
48:11right so
48:12what I
48:13what I try myself on
48:15under the first squad
48:15we need to do an assessment
48:17based on the information
48:18that you are providing
48:19to the police
48:19yes
48:20so what I will say
48:21to you sir
48:22bring in your necessary documents
48:23right
48:24we have a
48:25south office
48:26corner
48:27on Shagon
48:27on Shagon Street
48:28you are bringing
48:29all the documentary evidence
48:30that you have
48:31you visit our office
48:33our officer will
48:34have an interview with you
48:35do an assessment
48:36of what you are reporting
48:37and then definitely
48:39we will be able to tell you
48:40if it is
48:41that criminality
48:42could be attached
48:42to the report you are making
48:43or
48:44if we would advise
48:45that you may have to
48:46take civil action
48:46but like I said
48:47come in to us
48:48we will do an assessment
48:49of what you have
48:50and then
48:51the decision
48:51will be made
48:52sir
48:52okay
48:53okay
48:54thank you
48:54very much
48:55good question sir
48:55thank you
48:57you're welcome
48:57man
48:57thank you caller
48:58and obviously
48:59you know
49:00that
49:01those types
49:02of investment
49:03schemes
49:03has been
49:04very
49:05paramount
49:06in Trinidad
49:06and Tobago
49:07we have seen
49:08things happening
49:08in the past
49:09yes
49:09without calling names
49:11yes
49:11and the existing
49:12now on social media
49:13and I myself
49:15I'm selling you
49:16there's one that I'm
49:17looking at
49:18to investigate
49:18and you see that
49:21where they use their
49:22mark
49:22investigate
49:23yes
49:23that is perhaps
49:24the best word for this
49:26before you invest
49:28or before you
49:29part with your hard
49:30earned cash
49:31and money
49:32investigate
49:34do your due diligence
49:35what actually
49:36are you investing
49:38in
49:38because somebody
49:40cannot tell me
49:40Mark
49:41Mr. Brasser
49:42give me a thousand dollars
49:43and I'll invest for you
49:44but you're not going to tell me
49:45what you're investing in
49:47where my money is going
49:48are you registered
49:49there are a lot of
49:50there are a lot of dynamics
49:51so hence the reason why
49:52that you call
49:53we told him
49:54come in
49:55let us do an assessment
49:56first of your information
49:58and then we'll know for sure
49:59yeah
50:00most certainly
50:01there are a lot of
50:02nameless
50:02faceless criminals out there
50:04you know
50:05as well as those
50:06that are
50:06very much in your face
50:08correct
50:08social media and so on
50:10encouraging you to invest
50:11so
50:11so we want to
50:12urge citizens
50:13to be very mindful
50:15going forward
50:15look into it
50:17talk to other persons
50:18talk to persons
50:20with a solid financial background
50:22to ask
50:23the pertinent questions
50:24before you
50:25decide to
50:26put your hardened money
50:28into
50:28an alleged investment
50:29that will give you
50:30quick returns
50:31alright
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50:33and we'll be back
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51:37at 628-4646
51:40proud to be serving
51:42Trinidad and Tobago
51:42for over 20 years
51:44we do it all
51:46maintenance and repairs
51:48new construction
51:49sewer lines
51:51inspection
51:52drain cleaning
51:54leak detection
51:56we are licensed
51:57and insured
51:58so call plumbing solutions
52:00at 628-4646
52:03struggling with diabetes
52:04cholesterol
52:05or PCOS
52:07Berberine Plus
52:08by Aja Nutrition
52:09is here to support you
52:10with powerful
52:12all-natural ingredients
52:13available now
52:14at Pennywise
52:15and leading pharmacies
52:16nationwide
52:26welcome back to
52:40Beyond the Tape
52:40I'm your host
52:41Mark Basant
52:42here with
52:42Sergeant Bassrat
52:43from the Ford Squad
52:44and I just want to
52:45remind you
52:46before we go
52:46because we have to
52:47take an early exit
52:48that the show
52:49is going to be
52:50at 5 o'clock
52:50for the rest of the week
52:52alright
52:52so have a great one
52:53and obviously
52:54thank you so much
52:54Sergeant Bassrat
52:56for your time
52:57thank you
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