US promoter scammed by artiste impersonators

An elderly American man has detailed an alleged criminal conspiracy by persons in Jamaica who he said robbed him out of his life savings.

The 72-year-old man, Robert, in a letter to this newspaper, said he lost US$9500 (approximately J$1.5 million) after he was tricked by persons who pretended to be entertainers. He said that while organising an event for Los Angeles last December, he visited the website of a popular reggae artiste, hoping to secure a booking. However, after experiencing difficulties on the website, an associate went on Facebook and saw a page he thought was associated with the artiste. Using a telephone number that was posted on the page, they had "multiple video calls, phone calls, and text messages via phone and WhatsApp with someone resembling and impersonating" the artiste.

"He asked for a US$16,000 (nearly J$2.5 million) performance fee. I told him that I was still in the process of securing funding," Robert wrote.

But, after failing to secure the funds for the event, he wrote to the impersonator and told him of his plans to postpone the event and and cancel the booking for the venue.

"He told me not to do that - that I need not be concerned about his performance fee, that he would cover the US$20,000 (approximately J$3.1 million) cost of the venue, and would just want a percentage of the ticket sales," Robert said.

He said the imposter then told him that he likes performing with his good friend, another dancehall great who is an international recording artiste, and that he would charge in the region of US$3,000 for his fees.

Robert said he got a call from the second dancehall great to discuss the event. However, he now realised that that artiste, like the one he met on Facebook, was an impersonator as well. That impersonator, he said, asked him to send US$2,000 (approximately J$466,700), which he did.

"The next day, the [second impersonator] reached me through video call, supposedly from his studio, or house, and introduced me to his friend, someone who resembled [a third dancehall great, who is also international recording artiste] and impersonated him.

"Of course, [the artitse's name] was excited by our show and its causes, and he wanted to perform, and even invite his good friend and collaborator, [another international recording artiste].

"So it looked like we had a very successful show on our hands with [four giant artistes]. All that was asked of me was to cover initial expenses for musicians to get it together, as there wasn't much lead time," Robert said.

He said that he was told by the first scammer that it was important for him to cover these expenses if he wanted to be taken seriously as a promoter.

"He told me he had just signed a big record deal and that he was in a good financial position. On a video call, he showed me a substantial amount of cash," Robert said.

The bewildered man said that he was scheduled to meet with the first 'artiste' at the venue in Los Angeles 4 p.m. on November 16, at which time he promised to give him US$32,000(approximately J$5 million) cash -- US$20,000 (approximately $3.1 million) for the venue, and the remainder as reimbursement for other expenses. However, the artiste did not show.

"I am devastated beyond belief here in California, being defrauded of US$9,500, money stolen from me, and such good causes by such evil criminals. Please help me," wrote Robert, who claims to have reported the matter to the police in Jamaica.