Authorities unearth more housing scams

The Ministry of Housing and Water said that it has unearthed yet more scams involving properties, all of which are currently engaging the attention of its investigation unit.
According to the Ministry’s operation arm, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), it is also those members of the public who usually find themselves caught up in scams of this nature, who are equally culpable, “since they are willing to participate in activities which they must know could not be authentic, by the very nature of the modus operandi that is used by the fraudsters.”
The Ministry, in a statement yesterday, said that it was making reference to several notices advising persons to desist from entering into “transactions” which do not emanate from its offices.
“We would like to urge members of the public to report any case in which they would have paid, or were requested to pay, or enter into any transaction in relation to any business of the CH&PA.”
The CH&PA said that it is the only authorized agency for the allocation and receipt of payments with respect to house lots purchased from the authority, for which official receipts are issued.
“No one is authorized to collect money for house lots on behalf of the Central Housing and Planning Authority. All transactions related to house lots are conducted at the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s offices. No official business with the Authority is conducted in the field or at private premises.”
The Authority also said that in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement of Sale, it will not be honouring unauthorized or illegal transactions.
There has been a rash of reports of persons being defrauded of millions, particularly for empty lots and unoccupied structures.
Persons posing as real estate agents and even as CH&PA employees; have been selling lots, taking their unsuspecting clients to see the empty ones, and even taking them to the Ministry’s Brickdam offices.
A number of persons have been charged.