The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is warning consumers to be wary when they make purchases online to avoid being scammed while doing business with stores on Instagram.

Corporal Kayla Keane of the JCF’s Corporate Communications Unit told the Jamaica Information Service that the Cybercrimes Unit has made several arrests of persons involved in Instagram store scams such as selling dogs and hair extensions.

SEND THE MONEY AND GET NOTHING

“Those of you who are dog lovers need to be particularly careful; dogs are very expensive. You see where you can get a dog that is a thoroughbred for $50,000. Now that price is kind of cheap, but because everyone wants a deal… you send the money and get nothing,” Keane said.

She noted also that persons are paying upwards of $100,000 for hair extensions that they are yet to receive.

“I know somebody who was recently sentenced for selling extensions online, but it was never a real business. What she did was just set up the page, just to pretend as if they’re selling extensions. Once you pay your money, they block your page so that would be it for you. Luckily, that person was arrested and charged and sentenced for that crime,” she said.

According to Keane, the police are making inroads in addressing online crimes.

“We have a whole [Cybercrimes Unit] that deals strictly with those cases and others where there is sometimes an online aspect that may involve a text message.

“So, there have been several cases that have been placed before the courts and persons have actually been sentenced for these types of crime,” she said, stressing that the JCF is “ready, willing and able” to deal with such cases.

MAKE PURCHASES FROM REPUTABLE SOURCES

Keane urged persons to make purchases from reputable sources.

“If you want a dog, get a professional dog breeder. If you want to buy hair, do it on a reputable… and popular site like Amazon. Don’t do it on Instagram to get a deal and then you end up losing your money and you don’t have the item,” she cautioned.