Pastor Scammed out of $13,000

A pastor has lost over $13,000 in a land scam. 62-year-old, Jesus Contreras, reported to Police that in December 2021, he made negotiations for a $23,000 parcel of land with another man who identified himself as Angel Castillo. As a result, Contreras made two payments totaling $13,100 cash to Castillo between February and June 2022. In October 2022, Contreras received a copy of an apparent land document with his name from Castillo. In August 2023, Contreras made checks at the Lands Department in Belmopan and was informed that the land in question was registered in another person’s name. Contreras confronted Castillo but has not heard from him or seen him since.