Couple who used fake Facebook profile to rob overseas-based Guyanese to be charged soon

A Berbice couple residing at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice was on Tuesday arrested for defrauding an overseas based Guyanese man.

Shazeela Hitnarine, 40, and her partner Mahesh Inshanally, 29, a poultry farmer, are accused of defrauding the man of US$1,200 by pretending to be someone else.

The overseas based Guyanese man had said that Hitnarine, using a fake Facebook profile “Princess Amrita” with another woman’s picture, duped him into sending the money via Western Union transfer agency.

The story gained widespread attention and the woman whose picture was used on the fake profile issued a statement through her attorney and subsequently filed a police report in Berbice. Police not long after located Hitnarine and Inshanally who was found to be behind the fake profile.

The couple are expected to face charges under the Cyber Crime Act, Section 19 (3) (a). Hitnarine is also expected to be charged for obtaining money under false pretense.

The News Room understands that two cellular phones were found in Hitnarine’s possession and following further investigations, it was revealed that Hitnarine had also received money from others under false pretense.