News

Police search for con woman

By RASBERT TURNER, Star Writer

SPANISH TOWN

THE ST. CATHERINE North police are now looking for a woman who has been fleecing several people of thousands of dollars, through a bogus work scam.

THE STAR learnt that the woman, who goes by the name of Denise Croyan-Whyte, is operating between the Papine area of St. Andrew and Spanish Town.

Two victims of the scam spoke with THE STAR.

According to Chevanese Harris of Kitson Town, St. Catherine, on Monday she was introduced to Whyte by a friend. She said Whyte promised to get work for her in a hotel in the Cayman Islands. She reportedly gave Whyte $10,000 and was to give a further $7,000 for the package.

Harris said she was taken to the American Embassy last Tuesday, where the woman left her, telling her she was going to buy tickets for her departure. She waited from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but Whyte did not return.

Another St. Catherine woman Doreen Douglas of Byles district, said she met Whyte a week ago and on July 16, she handed over $17,000 to her. "Is right here so mi sit down," she said sobbing and pointing to a bench in the the LOJ Plaza, "and mi count out $17,000 and give this lady, because she tell mi that she need 10 persons to go Grand Cayman to work in the hotel and that I am a suitable candidate."

She showed THE STAR a piece of paper given to her as a receipt from Whyte. She was also left at the embassy.

Both women became suspicious after they made several checks with airlines and travel agencies and found no reservations had been made for them. They described the woman as being stoutly built and having a gherri curl hair style.

The Spanish Town police acknowledged they had received reports from Douglas and Harris and were investigating. The police warned that persons should be on the look out for Whyte and other such characters.

They said from information received, it is a big scam and they are following several leads.