Advance fee fraud: trends and issues in the Caribbean

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to discuss the trends and issues involved in advance fee fraud in the Caribbean. Design/methodology/approach - The paper offers a definition of advance fee fraud, describing its practice in the context of the Caribbean. The paper outlines the current state of the law in the region, the need for action and the legislative and enforcement strategies required. Findings - International and regional efforts have been geared towards drug trafficking and money laundering and, in more recent times, terrorism. The time is now ripe for these international and regional efforts to add to their focus advance fee fraud in all its versions and variations. The need to take proactive and decisive measures against advance fee fraud is even more evident in the context of the growth in the use of technology in commerce due to the obvious economic advantage. Advance fee fraud is not just a trick or reward for greed, it is an economic crime and there must be a drastic response from the region. The region should not be complacent towards the fraud in light of far reaching negative effect that the fraud is likely to have in the region. Originality/value - The paper adds insight into the practice of advance fee fraud in the Caribbean and the need for action to combat it.