Authorities are investigating a sophisticated fraud in which a suspect impersonated a well-known local businessman to dupe business owners.

The scam emerged on 18 July when staff at Epicurean Fine Foods and Pharmacy received a call from someone claiming to be the entrepreneur. The caller asked employees to top up several mobile phone numbers worth $1,350 EC dollars and ordered finger food platters, promising to pay upon collection.

Trusting the caller, a kitchen supervisor used her own money to process the phone top-ups, but the suspect never collected the food or reimbursed her.

Two days later, the suspect targeted a Clarke’s Hill resident, again posing as the businessman and requesting phone top-ups for five numbers alongside food orders under the same false promise of payment.

Police warn local businesses to verify unusual requests, especially those requiring advance payments. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone who has received similar calls is urged to report them.