Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

Reports have surfaced that there are persons in sections of St Catherine using the current back-to-school euphoria to get money from unsuspecting persons.

THE STAR has been informed that these persons, in mostly the Spanish Town and Old Harbour communities, are targeting individuals and institutions under the guise that they need money to purchase items for children returning to school.

One individual, who claimed to be aware of persons involved in the fraud, said; "I live at a house and there is a brother and sister who go out daily to get money fi pickney dem no have, and each night dem check off how much dem get."

Other persons also told THE STAR that they had been conned by persons pretending to have long book lists.

"Last week, I was frightened by a man who I saw collecting about $20,000 to buy books. When I saw him next, he confessed it was money he was looking as he is not working," one woman said.

When THE STAR spoke to the Spanish Town police, one officer said that they had received information that the practice was taking place. The officer, however, said that they had not received any formal report from any person who had been affected.