Covid19 shuts Fraud Squad offices, so no pyramid reports

The Fraud Squad hasn't received any reports from people who were scammed in the pyramid scheme, despite its calls for people to come forward.One reason may be that be both Fraud Squad offices in Port of Spain and San Fernando are temporarily closed.

A day after Newsday reported that police were asking for those affect to file complaints so an investigation can be launched, Newsday learnt five officers in the unit tested positive for covid19 and many others were sent into self-quarantine.But reports can still be made to any police station or through the TTPS app or by calling 555.

An officer in the unit explained on Friday afternoon, "We have no reports at the moment because we have a high (covid19) infection rate at both offices. Because of this, a senior officer made the decision to close both offices."Newsday was told that during the week, two officers in the unit tested positive.

"So we have five positive (cases) and many other contacts under quarantine, which is most of the officers in the unit. But the officer explained, "It doesn't mean a fraud cannot be reported. Once a report is made a referral, will be sent to us. They haven't received any referrals. "We just got hit hard within this week. We end up with skeleton staff and to avoid making it worse the offices had to be shut down."Gideon Dickson, president of the Police Social Welfare Association, told Newsday up to last Friday 36 police officers had tested positive for the virus and "the numbers could have gone beyond that by now."

When Newsday contacted two people who said they had been scammed and would report it to the Fraud Squad, one of the "investors," who lost over $2,800, said he will "leave this in God's hands. I not fighting up, nah."The second said she was planning to call and make a report on Friday.