Two couples from Plaisance on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) have come forward accusing an alleged fraudster of robbing them of millions of dollars in bogus vehicle sales.
These incidents occurred on November 4, and December 5, 2022.
As such, Police are looking for Devindra Moteeram, also known as “Vickash Singh”, and “Richard”, 24, of East La Penitence, Georgetown.
The first incident involved a couple from Plaisance, ECD. According to the couple, they were interested in purchasing a vehicle and on Friday, November 4, they allegedly handed over the sum of $700,000 to Moteeram, whom they claimed is known to them.
Alleged fraudster Devindra Moteeram
At the time of the transaction, Moteeram was reportedly acting as the middleman for an unknown person whom he claimed was selling a minibus for $1.8 million.
The couple claimed that they were told that they had to make a down payment of $300,000, with monthly instalments of $50,000 until the bus was completely paid for. They claimed that the bus was inspected, and they paid the cash to Moteeram, who promised that all documents would be handed over shortly. They agreed and left.
However, after that day, efforts to contact Moteeram proved futile. He was later spotted by the husband last Wednesday morning on Church Street, between Cummings and East Streets, after the husband saw Moteeram’s vehicle.
The man claimed he approached Moteeram and asked for his money. Moteeram reportedly said he would bring some of the money the same afternoon but the man refused and insisted that he needed his money immediately.
The rented car that was sold to the WBD couple
Moteeram, during the argument, asked the man to give him a few minutes to go get some of the documents, after which he jumped into another car and sped away. The husband claimed that he immediately deflated the tyres on the car the man left behind.
Upon further investigation, the couple found out that the man is a known fraudster and the bus that he was selling them, did not belong to him. The matter was then reported to the Criminal Investigations Department, where a probe was launched.
Meanwhile, another couple from the West Bank of Demerara contacted Guyana Times on Sunday accusing Moteeram of robbing them of over $2 million on December 5, 2022.
The man, who asked not to be named, told this publication that they were looking to buy a vehicle and his wife made contact with her uncle, who told them that he knew someone they could purchase the vehicle from.
The car that Moteeram used to transact the business
“My wife uncle told we that the vehicle is a repossessed vehicle and he carry we to Khan Auto Sales to check some vehicles, but when we checked, we didn’t like the vehicles. So we went to Giftland. He [the uncle] call we and told we he knows somebody else that got a vehicle and that was repossessed vehicle.”
“They, we uncle and Moteeram come and reach we at Giftland and we see the vehicle and we asked for the price and he said $1.8 million, so I told them that we have $1.7 million. The next day, the Tuesday, they come over to my side at GBTI bank and collect $1 million; they collected $800,000 in cash and the rest in jewellery and they give us the car.”
The man said they were then told that they would have to go to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to do a name transfer. The couple claimed that on Wednesday, they headed to GRA with the men. When they arrived at GRA, they were told by Moteeram and her uncle that they had a broker who had to come and inspect the vehicle.
“We went, we gave him the vehicle we bought from him, and we gave him $500,000 more and the rest of the money in jewellery, but it was more because the jewellery was worth like $500,000. He told us we had to pay him off because he said he will not be doing any more business until he collected all his money.”
“This guy ended up giving the broker the vehicle, put we in his vehicle [the same car used in the robbery in November], 15 minutes later the broker called and tell him to come and sign some paper, so he turn and say what kind paper I have to sign and he cut off he phone.”
“The broker call him back and tell he that he has to sign the paper, and he come out of the parking lot at GRA on Camp street, carry we down at the back, put we out and he made a U-turn, and he drive away. I call him and he said he by some side gate. I asked if this a robbery and he said no,” the victim said.
The couple said the man never returned, and all efforts to contact him and their uncle since then proved futile. The matter was later reported to the Brickdam Police Station and an investigation was launched.
The couple also claimed that they returned to GRA with the car’s licence plate number, and they were able to make contact with the owners of the vehicle which Moteeram was selling them, who then informed them that Moteeram had rented the vehicle on contract from their dealership for more than a month.
“So, he rented the car, told us it was a repossessed car, and then he tried to sell me and my wife the car. We later realised that this man has nothing, he is just a convict that is robbing people. The same thing he did with the bus story, he did with us, using the same car,” the man said.
The couple said they are hoping that the man is found soon because he continues to rob people of millions of dollars.
“$2 million is not easy to lose, especially at this time,” the man said.
Moteeram was among five persons who were accused of forging several cheques to the value of $19.4 million in the name of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). They were charged with the offences last year. He was released on bail.
