A 28-year-old woman, accused of defrauding multiple persons out of millions of dollars in a house lots scam, has been granted bail in the sum of $150,000.
On Monday, Areefa Paul of Lot 721 Plantation Best, West Coast Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where she was arraigned on two charges of obtaining money by false pretence.
She pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $150,000—$75,000 on each charge.
Paul was arrested last Thursday after one of her alleged victims spotted her at the Ministry of Housing and alerted authorities. According to police reports, Paul allegedly posed as an employee of the Ministry of Housing and convinced three individuals to hand over a total of $4.8 million, promising to secure house lots for them.
Investigators revealed that Paul first made contact with her victims on Facebook before meeting them in person. The first victim, a 33-year-old hairdresser from Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD), allegedly paid her $1.6 million between November and December 2024 for a house lot at Montrose, ECD.
The second victim, a 23-year-old woman from Sophia, Greater Georgetown reportedly handed over $600,000 on July 18, 2024, after being promised a lot in the Young Professional Scheme at Le Ressouvenir, ECD. The third victim, a 49-year-old goldsmith from Sophia, allegedly paid Paul $2.6 million between January and September 2024 for a house lot at Le Ressouvenir, ECD.
The victims only realised they had been scammed when they failed to receive the promised house lots. The matter escalated when one of them spotted Paul at the Ministry of Housing on Thursday last and immediately informed Enforcement Investigation Officer Hansel Elliot, who arrested her on the spot and escorted her to the police station.
Paul’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 14.
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