Scammers posing as JPS employees

Business owners are being warned to be on high alert after two men, posing as Jamaica Public Service (JPS) employees, attempted to scam a downtown shop owner out of $50,000.

At least three business owners admitted that they narrowly escaped the scam, as they did not want to risk being out of electricity. One of the business owners, Ricky, said two men came into his store wearing orange vests.

"I saw them looking at my meter, so I went out to talk to them. They told me they were going to cut off my electricity unless I paid them $50,000 immediately," he explained. Ricky, who has a friend employed at the power company, became suspicious and decided to call for verification.

"My friend told me that JPS workers always have an ID wrapped around their necks. These men had none. By the time I stepped back outside to confront them, they had already run off," he said. But the scam attempt didn't end there.

"I saw them go around the corner, trying to scam another business owner. I quickly warned them about what was happening. People need to know these scammers are out there right now," Ricky said, urging others to stay vigilant.

"I've been scammed before, and I know how it feels. I just want people to be educated about these things so they don't fall victim," he said.

When contacted about the situation, Audrey Williams, media and public relations manager at JPS, said she was unaware of this scam, but confirmed that this is not the first report of persons posing as JPS employees.

"Let me be clear, we do not send people to collect money," Williams stated firmly. She explained that all JPS payments must be made through authorised platforms, such as Paymaster, Bill Express, or directly at JPS customer service offices.

"If someone comes to you demanding cash, you should immediately be suspicious. Always ask for identification. Our employees carry picture IDs to confirm they work for the Jamaica Public Service," she advised. Williams also encouraged Jamaicans to stay alert and report suspicious activities.

"Every now and then, we hear about these scams. It's frustrating because this energy and creativity could be put to good use instead of defrauding hard-working people. We appeal to everyone to be cautious and report any incidents to the police or JPS," she added.