The next time you think of purchasing a ticket to attend a 'fish fry', do so with caution as it may just be a scam.

Persons are being tricked into purchasing tickets for these events that never occur, THE WEEKEND STAR has learnt.

Checks with the police confirmed that several persons have complained about their encounters with fish-fry 'promoters'.

Marcia Cunningham of Rockfort in east Kingston said last month she was swindled out of $3,000 from a man who sold her tickets for a fish fry which he claimed he was hosting.

Although the event was to be held more than a week ago, Cunningham says she is yet to receive a fish. To make matters worse, she added, the man who sold her the tickets cannot be found.

"In March, I bought five fish-fry tickets from a guy who showed up at my workplace and said he was keeping a fish fry ... . One of my friends knew him, so I bought some tickets but all now I don't see a plate or him. One of the tickets cost $600 eno," Cunningham said, noting that she and friends who also purchased tickets made a report to the Elletson Road police.

empty lot

In the case of Marsha-Lee Porter of Meadowbrook, St Andrew, when she turned up for her fish, she saw an empty lot where the event was expected to be held. She had spent $2,500 on tickets.

"Early last month, I bought some fish-fry tickets. When I turned up at the venue, nobody was there. It was about 4 p.m on a Saturday, so I thought I was early. When I returned about three hours later, the place was still empty," she said.

She made a report to the Constant Spring police after she tried in vain to contact the person who had sold her the tickets.

It was also found that the scam was not limited to the Corporate Area as people from rural areas were also swindled. Police sources from Clarendon, Montego Bay and St Elizabeth confirmed these reports.

"We have had quite a few reports recently. It seems many persons are getting tricked nowadays with these fish-fry events," Detective Inspector Michael Baugh of the Area Three police said.

"Criminals always find different ways to do what they do best and this is just another way for them to do so. They do it pretty easy too," Detective Corporal Michael Creary added.

As such, the police are urging persons to be be extra careful when purchasing tickets to these events, especially if the person selling the tickets is not a personal friend.