Daryl Vaz impersonated in motor vehicle scam
ACorporate Area man who reportedly used the image and name of Government Minister and Western Portland Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz to scam persons has been charged with fraud.
Shawn Latham, a 35- year- old merchandiser, of Knightsdale Drive, Kingston 19, was charged with obtaining money by false pretence and fraudulent conversion after he was arrested during a sting operation on June 14.
According to the police, Latham, through phone calls and instant messaging, told the complainants that he was Vaz and he had connections with upcoming motor vehicle auctions at the Kingston Wharf. The complainants reportedly paid out more than $4 million to him for two motor vehicles but later became suspicious and reported the matter to the police.
EXERCISE CAUTION
Vaz, speaking with THE STAR last night, urged people to exercise caution whenever his name is being attached to particular ventures.
“To use my family display picture on my WhatsApp to purport to be me, and to scam innocent people out of millions of dollars is an all time low,” Vaz said.
“Truth be told, I just hope that the police will continue their investigations. I congratulate them and I ask everybody to be very, very vigilant any time my name is mentioned in anything, to make sure that they are not scammed using my name,” the Minister of Science, Energy and Technology said.
Police said that Latham is being investigated by the Fraud Squad for several other cases. The lawmen also urged members of the public to do business through official channels, follow procedures, and avoid any scheme that appears ‘too good to be true’.