Belize City Student Reports Online Scam in Attempted PS5 Purchase

Police are investigating a report of obtaining property by deception after a Belize City student says he was duped in an online purchase for a PlayStation 5.  Twenty-year-old Daniel Turton of Gentle Lane visited the Precinct One CIB office on Monday afternoon and reported that he had been communicating via Facebook with an individual using the account name “Brytiago Diego,” who was advertising a PS5 and black-and-white controller for nine hundred Belize dollars.  Turton told investigators that an agreement was made for him to pay a deposit of three hundred and fifty dollars, with the balance to be paid upon delivery of the item via Tropic Air from San Pedro.  According to the report, at around 9:30 a.m. on February 23, Turton deposited the three hundred and fifty dollars at the Atlantic Bank Albert Street branch into an account under the name Shantel Rhaburn.  He said he was subsequently sent a receipt and tracking information indicating the package would arrive in Belize City at 1:00 p.m. that same day.  However, when Turton went to the Tropic Air terminal around 2:30 p.m., he was reportedly informed that the receipt and tracking details were not authentic.  Turton told police he has made several attempts to contact the Facebook seller but has been unsuccessful and has neither received the PlayStation nor a refund.  Police have since recorded a statement from the complainant and obtained copies of the alleged false receipt and message exchanges. An FIU request has been prepared as investigations continue.