THE LAW REFORM (FRAUDULENTTRANSACTIONS)

(SPECIAL PROVISIONS) ACT, 2013

(ActS'of2013)
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART I. Preliminary
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
PART II. Offences
3. Offenceofobtaining propertybya false pretence, etc.
4. Offenceofinviting aperson to visitJamaicabyafalse pretence.
5. Offence ofusing premises for purposes which constitute an offence
underthisAct.
6. Offence ofusing an access device to transfer or transport money or
monetary instrument.
7. Offence ofthreatening orintimidating a person involved in a criminal
investigation ortrial ofan offence.
8. Offences relating to theft, forgery, etc., ofaccess device.
9. Offenceofmaking, repairing,buying, etc., thing forcopying data from
an access device orforging or falsifying an accessdevice.
10. Offenceofknowinglyobtainingorpossessing,transmitting,distributing,
etc., identityinformation ofaperson.
11. Offenceofobtaining abenefitbymenace.
12. Conspiring to commit, aiding, etc., offenceunder thisAct.
13. Offences and penalties.
PART III. Enforcement Provisions
14. Committal for trial without preliminaryexamination and trial without
jury.
15. Possession ofproperty not accounted for.
16. Powersofsearchandseizure.
17. Restitution.
11
[No. The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions)
(Special Provisions) Act, 2013
PART IV. General
18. Regulations.
19. Power of Minister to amend monetary penalties,
20. Review of Act.
ScHEDULE.
JAMAICA
No. fg -2013
Iassent,
[L.S.]
Governor-General.
AN ACT to Makenew provision for offences relating to lottery
scams, advancefee fraud and otherfraudulent transactions;
andforconnectedmatters.
[ 1t& LiI
BEITENACTEDbyTheQueen'sMostExcellentMajesty,byand
with the advice and consent ofthe Senate and House of
RepresentativesofJamaica, and bytheauthorityofthesame, as
follows:-
PART I. Preliminary
1. This Act may be cited as the Law Reform (Fraudulent Shorttitle.
Transactions)(SpecialProvisions)Act,2013.
2 [No. ) The Law Reform (Fraudttlent Ihl1'l.\'(/('t;on,\)
(Special AU, 201 J
Interpretation
2. InthisAct-
"accessdevice" meansanycard.plate,code,
electronicserial number. mobileidentification number,
personal identiticationnumberandany othermeansof
accessthatcanheusedaloneorwithanotherdevice, to
obtain a benefit orotherthing ofvalue, orthat canbe
usedtoinitiateatransferofmoney;
itkludesanyproperty.serviceoradvantag;;:
"Court" means a CircuitCourt;
"document;' means anything in which information ofany
d"scription is recorded;
ufaJge pretence" means a representation ofa matter offact
eitherpresentorpast,madebywordsorotherwise,that
isknewnbythepersoniNhomakesittobt!falseandthat
ismadewithafraudulentintenttoinducethepersonto
whomit ismadetoactontherepresentation;
"property" means aU property wherever it is sit
1
1aled
including-
(a) money;
(b) allformsofrealpropertyorpersonalproperty,
and
(c) things in action and other intangible or
incorporeal property.
PART II. Offences
Offenceof 3.-(1) Notwithstandinganythingcontainedinanyotherlaw,a
obtaining
property by personcommitsanoffencewherethatpersonbyafalsepretence,
afalse
pretence. efc.
3 The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) [No. 1
(Special Prol'isionsj Act, 2013
whetht::roirectlyorindirectly.throughthemediumofacontractor
otherarrangemententereuintob)afalsepretence---
(a) obtainsfrom anyotherperson.anypropertyforhimself
oranyother r s o n ~ or
(b) inducesanyotherpersontodelivertohim oranyother
person,anyproperty.
(2) A personcommitsan offencewherethatperson,bya
falsepretence,inducesanyotherpersontoconferabenefitonhim
or onanyotherpersonbydoingorpennittingathingtobedone,on
theunderstandingthat the benefithasbeenorwillbepaid foror
someotherbenefitwouldbeprovidedin exchange,
(3) Thereferences in subsections(1) and(2)toanyother
personarereferencesto suchotherperson.whetherthatpersonis
at thetimeufthecommissionof theoffencewithinoroutsideJa-
maica.
4. Aperson commitsan offencewhere that person, bya false
pretence, invites or otherwise induces any other person to visit
Jamaica for any purpose connected with the commission ofan
offenceunderthisAct.
5. Theowner,occupieror ::lny otherpersonresponsiblefor the
managementofallYpremises.commitsanoffencewherethatowner,
occupierorotherpersonknowinglycausesorknowingly permits
theprtmiscstobeusedforanypurposewhichconstitutesanoffence
underthisAct.
6.---(1) Apersoncommitsan offencewherethatperson,being
in Jamaica, uses orcauses to beused, an access device orother
means, to transferortransport, attempt to transferortransportor
cause to be transferred or transported, money or a monetary
instrument-
(a) from a placein Jamaica iO or tnrOl-ij,;i-, 11 place outside
Jamaica;
(b) in a place in Jamaica from orthrough a placeoutside
hlmaica;
Otlt:'fIceof
invitinga
person to visit
Jamaicabya
falsepretfficc,
Offenceof
u,ingpremises
lorpurposes
which
constitute an
offenceunder
Act.
Offence0f
usingan
access deVice
totransferor
transpN1
money or
monetary
instrumcnL
4 [No. The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions)
(Special Provisions) Act, 2013
(c) from a place outsideJamaicato anotherplace outside
Jamaica;or
(d) from a place inside Jamaica to another place inside
Jamaica,
if thepersonknowsorhasreasonablegroundstobelieve,thatthe
moneyorthe monetary instrument involved in such transferor
transportationconstitutesorissubstantiallyrelatedtotheproceeds
ofsomeformofunlawfulactivity.
(2) Forthepurposesofthissection-
"monetaryinstrument"meansanote,coinorotheritemthat
q>nstitutesthecurrencyofJamaicaorof anyStateother
thanJamaica,atraveller'scheque,personalcheque,bank
cheque,moneyorder,investmentsecurityinbearerform
orotherwisein suchform thattitletheretopassesupon

"proceeds" in relation to any unlawful activity means any
property derived or obtained, directly or indirectly
throughthecarryingoutofthatactivity;
"unlawfulactivity"means-
(a) anyactoractivityconstitutinganoffenceunder
thisAct;or
(b) an offence against the laws ofa State other
thanJamaicainvolvingobtainingpropertyby
fraud, wheretheactsconstitutingtheoffence
arecommittedinwholeorinpartinJamaica,
andthoseactswould,iftheyhadtaken place
entirelyinJamaica,alsoconstituteanoffence
againstthelawsofJamaica.
Offenccof 7. Aperson commits an offence where that person, with the
threateningor
intimidatinga
intenttointerferewithorotherwiseaffectacriminalinvestigation
person
or a trial ofan offence committed under this Act, threatens,
involved ina
criminal .
....t!!!1idates, causesanyinjuryorattemptstocause1yinjury,toa

ortrialofan
person who is involved, in any form ormanner, in the criminal
offence.
ortrial.
5 The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) [No.
(Special Provisions) Act. 2013
8.-( I) Apersoncommitsanoffencewherethatperson-
(a) stealsan accessdevice;
(b) forges orfalsifies an accessdevice;
(c) possesses,usesortrafficksinanaccessdeviceoraforged
orfalsifiedaccessdevice,knowingthatitwasobtained,
madeoraltered-
(i) byan actoromissionconstitutinganoffence
underthisActoranyotherlaw;or
(ii) by an act oromission in a State other than
Jamaica where such act or omission, had it
occurredin Jamaica, would haveconstituted
anoffenceagainstthelawsofJamaica;or
(d) usesanaccessdeviceknowingthatithasbeenrevoked
orcancelledwiththeintenttocommitanoffenceunder
thisActoranyotherlaw.
(2) A person commits an offence where that person
fraudulentlypossesses,uses,trafficksinorpermitsanotherperson
to useanydatafrom an accessdevice(whetherornotthedatais
authentic),that wouldenablesuchotherpersonto usetheaccess
deviceortoobtaintheservicesthat areprovidedbytheissuerof
theaccessdevice.
(3) Forthe purposes ofthis section "traffick" means, in
relation to an access device orany data derived from an access
device, to sell, export from orimportinto Jamaica, distributeor
dealwithinanyotherway.
9. Aperson commits an offence where thatperson, without
lawfuljustificationorexcuse,makes,repairs,buys,sells,exports
fromorimportsintoJamaica,orpossessesanyinstrument,device,
apparatus,materialorthingthatheknowshasbeenusedorknows
isadaptedforuseorintendedforuse-
OtTences
relatingto
theft. torgery.
etc. ofaccess
device.
Offenceof
making.
repairing.
buying.etc.,
thingfor
copying data
froman access
device or
(a) inthecopyingof anydatafrom anaccessdeviceforuse forgingor
inthecommissionofanoffenceunderthisAct;or falsifyingan
access device.
(b) intheforgingorfalsifyingof anaccessdevice.
6 [No. ] The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions)
(Special Provisions) Act, 2013
OITcnceof
10.-(1) A person commits an offence where that person
knowingly
knowinglyobtainsorpossessesidentityinfonnationofanyother
obtainingor
possessing.
personin circumstanceswhichgiveriseto areasonableinference
transmitting.
that the infonnation has been used or is intended to be used to
distributing.
elc. identity
commitanoffenceunderthisActoranyotherlaw.
information
ofaperson.
(2) A person commits an offence where that person
transmits, makes available, distributes, sells or offers for sale,
identityinfonnationofanyotherperson,orhasitinhispossession
in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference that the
infonnationhasbeenusedorisintendedtobeusedto commitan
offenceunderthisActoranyotherlaw.
(3) Forthepurposesofthissection,"identityinfonnation"
meansanyinfonnation,inc1uding-
(a) afingerprint,voiceprint,retinaimage,irisimage,DNA
profile, or any other biological or physiological
infonnation;or
(b) a name, address, date ofbirth, written signature,
electronic signature, e-mail address, digital signature,
user name, credit card number, debit card number,
financial institution account number, health insurance
number, driver's licence number, telephone number,
taxpayerregistrationnumber,socialsecuritynumber,or
any other unique personal identification number, or
password,
beinginfonnationofatypethat is used, aloneorin combination
withotherinfonnation,toidentifyorpurporttoidentifyanindividual,
whetherlivingordead.
Offenceof 11.-(1) Apersoncommitsanoffencewherethatpersonbyuse
obtaininga
oftelephonyoranyotherelectroniccommunicationsystem,makes
benefit by
menace. anydemandwithmenacesonanotherperson-
(a) with a view to obtaining a benefit for himselfor any
otherperson;or
(b) withtheintenttocauselosstoanyotherperson.
The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) [No. ] 7
(Special Provisions) Act, 2013
(2) Forthepurposesofthissection-
"data"meansmaterialinwhateverformstoredinanelectronic
communicationsystem;
"electronic communication system" means a system for
creating, generating, sending, receiving, storing,
displayingorotherwiseprocessingelectronicdocuments
ordata;
"electronic document" means information that is created,
generated,communicated,stored,displayedorprocessed
byelectronicmeans.
12.-(1) Apersoncommitsanoffencewherethatperson- ConspirillgH'
cOlnmit .lIdi.,;'
(a) conspires with, aids, abets, counsels or procures any etc .. r.
otherpersontocommitanoffenceunderthisAct;or underliIi.",
(b) incitesorinducesanyotherpersonbywhatevermeans
tocommitanoffenceunderthisAct.
(2) Whereafalsepretencewhichconstitutesanelement
ofanoffenceunderthisActiscontainedinadocument,achargeof
anattempttocommittheoffenceshallnotfail byreasononlythat
thedocumentwas not receivedbytheperson to whom the false
pretencewasdirected.
(3) Notwithstandinganythingtothecontraryinanyother
law, everyactorthingdoneoromittedtobedonebyapersonto
facilitatethecommissionbyhimofanoffenceunderthisActshall
constituteanattempttocommittheoffence.
13.--{1) ApersonwhocommitsanoffenceunderthisActshall 0"""".,illl<J
beliable, onconviction on indictment in a Circuit Court, to the
penaltyspecifiedin relationthereto inthe second column ofthe ,i),Juk
Schedule.
(2) TheCourtmay,inimposingasentenceundersubsection
(1),considerthefollowing-
(a) theageofthevictim;
(b) whetherthevictimsuffersfrom aphysicaldisorderor"-
mentaldisorderwithinthemeaningoftheMentalHealt!t
Act;
8
Committalfor
trialwithout
preliminalY
exammation
andtrial
withoutjury.
Possession of
property not
accountedfor.
Powersof
search and
seizure.
[No. The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions)
(Special Provisions) Act. 2013
(C) whether menaces wereused in thecommission ofthe
offence;
(d) whetherpersistentbadgeringoraggressionwasusedin
thecommissionoftheoffence;and
(e) anyothermatterwhichtheCourtconsidersrelevant.
PART III. Enforcement Provisions
14.-(1) Whereapersonischargedwithanoffenceunderthis
Act,thepersonshallbecommittedfortrialwithoutanypreliminary
examinationandshallbetriedbeforeaJudgeof theCircuitCourt
sittingalone,withoutajury.
(2) In this section, "preliminaryexamination" includes
any proceedings, bywhatever name called, for determining the
committalof apersonfortrial.
15. InatrialforanoffenceunderthisAct,thefactthataperson-
(a) is in possession ofproperty for which he cannot
satisfactorilyaccount and which is disproportionate to
hisknownsourcesofincome;or
(b) hadatoraboutthetimeofthecommissionofthealleged
offence,obtainedanaccretiontohispropertyforwhich
hecannotsatisfactorilyaccount,
maybetakenintoconsiderationbytheCourtandisadmissibleas
evidencetotheextentrelevanttoanyissueinthetrial.
16.-{I) WhereaJusticeofthePeaceissatisfiedbyinformation
onoath,andsuchfurtherinformationashemayinthecircumstances
require, that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that
evidenceof orrelatingtoanoffenceunderthisActistobefound
onanypremisesspecifiedintheinformation,hemayissueawarrant
inaccordancewithsubsection(2).
(2) Awarrant issuedunderthis sectionmayauthorizea
constable named therein, with such assistance as is reasonably
necessary,andbytheuseof reasonableforce,t()---
(a) enterthepremisesandsearchforevidenceof,orrelating
to,anoffenceunderthisAct;and
The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) [No. ] 9
(Special Provisions) Act. 2013
(b) seizepropertyfoundinthecourseofthesearchthatthe
constablebelieves,onreasonablegrounds,tobeevidence
of,orrelatingto,anoffenceunderthisAct.
17.-{1 )InadditiontoanyotherpenaltyunderthisAct,theCourt Restitution.
shallorderapersonconvictedofanoffenceunderthisActtomake
restitution to the victim ofthe offence bydirecting the person
convicted-
(a) wherethepropertyinvolvedismoney,topaytothevictim
anamountequivalenttothelosssustainedbythevictim,
whichamountshall includeanyinterestincomewhich
mayotherwisehaveaccruedfortheperiodduringwhich
thepersonwasdeprivedof hispropertyor;
(b) inanyothercase--
(i) to return the property to the victim orto a
persondesignatedbythevictim;or
(ii) to pay an amount equal to the value ofthe
property, where the return ofthepropertyis
impossibleorimpracticable.
(2) Anorderofrestitutionmaybeenforcedbythevictim
orbytheprosecutiononbehalfofthevictiminthesamemanneras
ajudgmentinacivilaction.
(3) Whereavictimisdeceased,thepersonalrepresentative
of thevictimshallbeentitledtoreceiverestitutionpursuanttoan
ordermadebytheCourt.
(4) For the purposes ofthis section, "personal
representative" means the executor, administrator or heir ofa
deceasedperson.
PART IV. General
18.-(1) TheMinistermaymakeregulationsgenerallyforthe Regulations.
properadministrationofandgivingeffecttotheprovisionsofthis
Act.
[N,. {he Law R\!<mn (Fr(luduit-nt Transactions)
(:-ijJtJnal Act, 20 J 3
(2) Regulations \uade under this Act may provide for the
IInposnion I II on I:o(lviction, of a tine not exceeding three
nlillinH ,h,lurs 01 impnsonmcnt for a tenll not cXl:.ccding three years
or ofhoth fine and iUlprisonmr.:nt.
C,) Regulations made under this section shall he suhject
to <lfflrnHltlH.' resolution
19. The Minister may, by order, to aftinnative resolution,
amend 'IllY monctmy penalty by this Act.
m,Hh:!hf:'
I,,' ,. i; r:-.
20. A I'cvicw of this Act shall be no later than five
years after the commencement of this Act by a committee
Parliament appointed for the purpose.
---
The Lal'.' Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) INo.
1
11
(Special Act, 2013
SCBEDUlE (Section 13)
OjJl!nces and Penalties:
First Column
BriefDescription
ofOffence
L Offenceof
obtaining
propertybyafalse
pretence,etc.
2. Offenceofinviting
apersonbya false
pretence
3. Offenceofusingpre-
misesforpurposes
whichconstitutean
offence
4. Offenceoftransporting
orattemptingtotrans-
portmoneyora
monetaryinstrument
5. Offenceofthreatening,
intimidating,causing
injury,etc. toaperson
6. Offencesrelatingto
theft, forgery,
possession,using,
trafficking,etc., of
access device
Relevant
Section
3
4
5
6(1)
7
8
Second Column
Penalty
(maximum on conviction)
in Circuit Court
Fineorimprisonment
notexceedingtwenty
yearsorbothsuchfinf!
andimprisonment
Fineorimprisonment
notexceedingtwenty
yearsorbothfine and
imprisonment
Fineorimprisonment
notexceedingfifteen
years
Fineor imprisonment
notexceedingtwenty
yearsorbothsuchfine
andimprisonment
hnprisonmentnotex-
ceedingtwenty-five
years
Fineorimprisonment
notexceedingfifteen
yearsorbothsuchfine
andimprisonment
----
12 [No. ] The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions)
(Special Provisions) Act. 2013
First Column Second Column
Penalty
BriefDescription Relevant (maximum on conviction)
ofOffence Section in Circuit Court
7. Offenceofmaking, 9 Fineorimprisonment
repairing,buying, notexceedingtwenty
selling, etc., instruments, yearsorbothsuchfine
etc., forcopyingaccess andimprisonment
device, etc.
8. Offenceofobtaining 10(1) Fineorimprisonment
orpossessingidentity notexceedingfifteen
information yearsorbothsuchfine
andimprisonment
9. Offenceoftrans- 10(2) Fineorimprisonment
mitting,making notexceedingfifteen
available,distributing, yearsorbothsuch fine
sellingorofferingfor andimprisonment
saleorpossessingthe
identityinformationof
anyotherperson
10. Offenceofobtaining 11(1) Imprisonmentforaterm
abenefitbymenace notexceedingtwenty
years
11. Offenceofconspiring, 12 Imprisonmentnotex-
aiding,etc., commission ceedingfifteenyears
ofoffence
PassedintheHouseofRepresentativesthis 5thdayofMarch, 2013 with
three(3)amendments.
MICHAELA.PEART
Speaker.
13 The Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) [No. ]
(Special Provisions) Act, 2013
Passed in the Senate this 21st day of March, 2013 with fourteen (14)
amendments.
STANLEY ST. J. REDWOOD
President.
On the 26th day ofMarch, 2013 the House ofRepresentatives agreed to the
amendments made by the Senate.
MICHAEL A. PEART
Speaker.
This printed impression has been carefully
compared by me with the authenticated
impression of the foregoing Act, and has been
found hy me to be a true and correct printed
copy of the said Act.
J ~ II-IC. ee.>ke.
I : I ~ r k to the Houses of Parliament.