作者： admin

The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has issued a stern warning to the public regarding a surge in cybercrime incidents, urging heightened vigilance during online transactions. Reports have emerged of individuals being defrauded and having their personal information compromised, prompting an ongoing investigation into these fraudulent activities. Scammers are reportedly posing as government officials, soliciting credit top-ups or requesting sensitive personal and financial details from unsuspecting victims. The Police Administration has emphasized the importance of verifying the legitimacy of any individual or agency before sharing information or making payments. To combat these threats, the police have outlined several safety measures: avoiding the disclosure of personal information to unknown contacts, refraining from sending money to unverified individuals, regularly updating passwords, and monitoring financial accounts for suspicious activity. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious behavior to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) or their nearest police station. The Royal Police Force remains committed to protecting citizens and mitigating the risks posed by cybercriminals.

Jahmalier Grant, a resident of Cooks Hill, has been mandated by the High Court to repay over $4,000 or serve a six-month prison sentence following her admission to a 2022 check fraud scheme. The court delivered its verdict on Thursday, convicting Grant on three counts of obtaining money through forged instruments. She is required to pay $2,300 in restitution by mid-December and an additional $2,000 fine by the end of January. According to prosecutors, Grant cashed three fraudulent checks totaling $2,300 at a wholesale business in September 2022. The checks originated from a stolen checkbook taken during a residential burglary. Initially, Grant claimed that a young man had provided her with the checks, but she later confessed to forging them herself. The fraudulent checks were cashed on September 7 and September 9 on Lower Market Street, all bearing the same forged signature. Grant, a mother of three, had initially pleaded not guilty to six related forgery charges, which prosecutors subsequently withdrew. She ultimately pleaded guilty to the charges of obtaining money by forged instruments last month.

A 28-year-old Civil Registry employee, Sedeki Akelo Andre from Gambles, has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison after admitting to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The sentencing, delivered by Senior Magistrate Emanuel on Thursday, included concurrent terms of one year and nine months for possessing a 9mm Taurus pistol and one year for seven rounds of ammunition. The case originated on November 16 when a police officer noticed Andre entering a nightclub with a suspicious bulge at his waist. Upon being approached, Andre resisted the officer’s attempts to search him, insisting, “Everything good. Me good. Na touch me.” A security guard intervened, and during the ensuing struggle, the firearm fell from Andre’s clothing. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about illegal weapons in public spaces and the challenges law enforcement faces in addressing such issues.