A senior police officer announced on Monday that authorities are concerned about a scam whereby foreigners are paying people pretending to be immigration officers for fingerprinting services they never receive.
According to Superintendent Delmeta Turnquest, over the past week and a half, an increasing number of people have complained of individuals impersonating immigration officers who have approached them, requesting a fee for fingerprinting.
“There are people coming here telling us that they paid between $100 and $150 to have their fingerprints taken at this office,” Superintendent Turnquest said.
“They collect the money from these people, send them in here (Criminal Records Office) and say they already have someone lined up to do the fingerprintingﾅI want to assure the public, however, that there has never been a fee for the taking of fingerprints. The Commissioner of Police has never mandated this.”
Fingerprinting is essential for foreign nationals hoping to be regularized.
“These fingerprints are sent back to the individualsﾴ country of origin to be processed (along with other relevant information) in order to get status here in The Bahamas,” Superintendent Turnquest said.
Fingerprinting is also necessary for those persons working in the gaming industry, she said.
The Criminal Records Office only requests a $2.50 fee for police certificates. Applicants also have to pay a small fee, which varies, to get firearms licensed.
Superintendent Turnquest said several years ago, a police officer was charged in connection with fraudulent police records.
Officials advise anyone with information concerning any type of fraudulent activity to contact the police at 356-2641-3 or 502-9933.
Macushla N. Pinder, The Bahama Journal
