Protect yourself from scammers at Jamaica courthouses

It is crtical to protect yourself from scammers, which are an increasingly popular nuisance. As the Covid pandemic worsens the activity of scammers has increased at governmental buildings esepcially at courthouses. Sutton Street courthouse is no less a feeding ground.

Several persons hang outside touting for ‘clients’ for varied bailiff and filing services. Its a well needed role, gone bad by a few players with evil intention. Here a tips to handling yourself:
Firstly lets identify ‘courthouse’ scammers:-

1. Scammers are ‘smooth talkers’. They are comforting, but it’s all just talk.
2. Scammers dress exceptionally well, almost too well for the job. A fake glasses gives a professional look.
3. Scammers sometimes get busy engaging listeners with stories, where they project themselves as the hero of the moment
4. Scammers project themselves as knowing it, solving it all, while putting down others with defamation.
5. At the Sutton Street courthouse scammers persistently warn victims away from going into the court for themselves
6. Scammers persistently identify themselves as bailiffs, lawyers, police and even investigators. Be warned however that real Court bailiffs, private police and lawyers does not readily identify himself.
7. Scammers wear identification cards designed to look like the actual court staffers ID. The identification cards bearing the Coat of Arms, are flashed out now and again
8. Scammers charge unreasonable and unconsionable fees, Most times they CANNOT produce the work because they either do not have the ability, or simply cannot, because they lack a good command of the English language to write or read well, if any at all.
9. Scammers charge unreasonable fees, nothing less than $10,000 unless, but
10. Scammers often gives a fictitous receipts
11. Scammers intentionally disappear with the monies earned quickly after ‘earning it’.
12. Scammers at the Sutton Street court have throughout history, even secured bad men, who sometimes are police officers, to intimidate the victim who returns and demands a refund
13. Scammers are not trained formally and really on very limited informal training, as they usually operate with one per cent reality

POLICE INVOLVEMENT
Now in most cases listed above, it would seem that a bad tout is a scammer. It is interesting therefore, that the police feels that their hands are tied to do anything when a victim reports on being swindled. Most times the police tells the victims it is a civil matter, and referes them back to the court – adding further pain and chaos.

TIPS TO DEALING WITH BAD TOUTS OR COURT SCAMMERS

So here are tips worth using to protect yourself

1. Do not listen to anyone who persistently says “Do not go inside because I will help you
2. Do not allow anyone to GRAB paper from your hands, it is unprofessional
3. If someone bad talks anyone, they are pulling you into defaming others you do not know
4. As much as possible test anyone approaching you, MAIN TEST: Give the person something to read
5. Demand a good receipt, even if its not perfect, A receipt must identify the creator, the amount paid, and detail of the work or goods paid for, payment date, balance owing. More on receipts on this site
6. Ensure you get a police receipt, if you end up reporting the person. According to the Inspectorate of Police receipts are to be issued for anything report. Its not up to the police to decide whether a report is trivial

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