Bahamas News

Some GSM and TDMA vendors expressed concern on Tuesday over a scam designed to rob customers by issuing false phone cards.

On Sunday, police warned retailers and customers to be aware of a phone card scam that police have been able to detect.

According to Assistant Superintendent Walter Evans, the perpetrators were taking used phone cards and placing black or grey duct tape over the used pin numbers of those cards.

“They ask for a certain amount, generally more than two cards and what they do is take the card and place it at the bottom and they take the good phone card and say to the shop owner or operator that they no longer wish to have the phone card,” he said.

On Tuesday, BTC marketing executives sent out a similar warning to consumers.

Vice President of Marketing Sales and Business Development Marlon Johnson of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company said that the company has already taken all the necessary measures to protect its customers from fraud.

“It came to our attention on Monday that there were persons who were selling fraudulent phone cards,” he said. “When we did our investigation we found that the pins that the operator were using were illegally obtained from BTC. So whereas persons were buying the pins and they probably would have been working, it would have been authorized without our consent.

So what we have done in the interim, we have deactivated all of those pins that we believe have been obtained fraudulently.”

Mr. Johnson warned consumers to protect themselves when purchasing a card.

“We are warning our customers to properly check the card when they get them to make sure that their cards have the proper BTC logo,” Mr. Johnson warned. “Secondly they should check to see if the cards has little white marks because we have added them as a security feature and thirdly they should load their cards before they leave the vendor just to make sure.”

Mr. Johnson said in the case of people purchasing cards that have already been deactivated, all they have to do is go to BTC on John F. Kennedy Drive to be reimbursed.

“What we cannot entertain is persons who have not purchased an authentic BTC card, so we ask those people to exercise care and those who do will be safe,” he said.

On Tuesday, vendors were expressing concern over fraudulent phone cards.

Wilca Deleveaux, a vendor of Bethel Avenue said he learnt about the scam, a week ago.

“People have been saying that there are people selling fake cards but I don’t know where they get them from. People should know a real card from a fake one,” he said.

Sherice Mollie, a vendor on Faith Avenue said that she was not aware of the warning but said she would be on the lookout.

“Some persons have told me that they have received cards with duct tape on them,” she said. “I know that when my customers come to me I usually tell them to try the card a number of times and if it does not work I would give them another card.”

Sheniqua Williams, a vendor on Carmichael Road said that she disagrees with the measures that BTC is taking

“Well it could be that they turn off cards that I already have and then what I am I supposed to do?” she asked.

She gave a suggestion on what she thinks BTC should do.

“I think they should go out to as many vendors as they can and try to find the ones that don’t work.”

Mr. Evans warned on Sunday that anyone found involved with the selling of false cards will be persecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Source: Bahama Journal