St. John's 27°C Drizzle

Antigua News
Live
Antigua and Barbuda

HMP Cracks Down on Inmate Phone Scams Amid Rising Security Concerns

By

Published
HMP Cracks Down on Inmate Phone Scams Amid Rising Security Concerns
Trevor Pennyfeather, Superintendent of Prisons (file photo)

Authorities at His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) are stepping up efforts to tackle a surge in phone scams orchestrated by inmates, as the illegal smuggling of cell phones into the facility continues to frustrate prison officials.

Superintendent of Prisons, Trevor Pennyfeather, confirmed that his team is collaborating with the Royal Police Force to seize contraband and prevent further breaches. “Despite recent confiscations, inmates and their outside contacts keep finding ways to get phones inside,” he said.

The scams, which often involve inmates asking unsuspecting members of the public to purchase phone “top-ups” or other items, have already cost victims thousands of dollars. In one case, a person was duped into buying groceries worth over $1,000 based on a fabricated story. Some inmates have even invoked the names of prominent families to lend credibility to their schemes.

Prison authorities say that stronger measures are limited until the Department of Corrections bill—set to address phone smuggling and related offenses—passes in Parliament.

Meanwhile, the public is urged to confirm any such requests directly with the individuals involved before sending money and to report any suspected scams to the police without delay.

This story was first published by Antigua News on : antigua.news/2025/08/18/hmp-cracks-down-on-inmate-phone-scams-amid-rising-security-concerns. © 2025 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

Step 1

Add Antigua.news to your Home Screen

✕ antigua.news ⋯ Open in Safari Copy link Share…

First, open this page in Safari

You are reading inside another app (Instagram, Facebook…). Tap ⋯ at the top right and choose Open in Safari (or Open in browser).

No such option? Copy the link, open Safari and paste it in the address bar.

⚙️ Settings General › Software Update

Update your iPhone first

Alerts need iOS 16.4 or newer. Open Settings → General → Software Update and install the update. You can still add the icon now: tap Next.

‹ antigua.news ⋯

Tap the ⋯ button

It is at the bottom right of Safari, next to the address bar. Don't see the bar? Scroll up a little.

Share Add Bookmark New Tab Find on Page

Tap Share

It is the first option of the menu, with a square-and-arrow icon.

antigua.news ‹ › ▢ ⧉

Tap the Share button

The square with an arrow pointing up, in the middle of the bar at the bottom (on iPad: at the top right).

antigua.news

Tap the Share button

The square with an arrow, at the right of the address bar at the top. (Firefox: tap ☰ at the bottom, then Share.)

Copy Add to Reading List Add to Home Screen

Tap Add to Home Screen

Scroll down the list to find it (icon: a square with a +). Not there? Tap Edit Actions or View More at the bottom.

Cancel Add to Home Screen Add Antigua.news Open as Web App

Keep Open as Web App on, then tap Add

The switch must be green — without it, alerts can't work. Then tap Add at the top right.

Cancel Add to Home Screen Add Antigua.news An icon will be added to your Home Screen so you can quickly access this website.

Tap Add

At the top right. If you see an Open as Web App switch, leave it on (green).

Antigua.news

Close the browser and open Antigua.news from its new icon

Go to your Home Screen: the Antigua.news icon is there now (swipe left if you don't see it). Alerts only work when you open us from this icon.

“Antigua.news” Would Like to Send You Notifications Notifications may include alerts, sounds and icon badges. Don’t Allow Allow

Tap 🔔 Turn on alerts, then Allow

In the app you will see a red box asking to turn on alerts: choose your sections, tap the button, then tap Allow. That's it — breaking news will reach you even with the phone locked.
Shermain Bique-Charles

About the author

Shermain Bique-Charles is an accomplished journalist with over 24 years of dynamic experience in the industry. Renowned for her exceptional storytelling and investigative skills, she has garnered numerous awards that highlight her commitment to journalistic integrity and excellence. Her work not only informs but also inspires, making her a respected voice in the field.

Read our editorial standards and corrections policy. Spotted an error? Contact the newsroom.

Comments (9)

  • Renae August 18, 2025, 8:23 AM

    It’s unbelievable that inmates keep finding ways to scam people like this. Everyone needs to be extra careful before sending money.
    Reply

  • Tamia August 18, 2025, 8:26 AM

    It’s sad that people keep falling for these schemes. Awareness campaigns are needed to educate the public.
    Reply

  • Apex Jones August 18, 2025, 10:24 AM

    Loom how long they say they gonna get cellphone jammers. What ever happened to that?
    Reply

  • Lee-andra August 18, 2025, 11:16 AM

    Honestly, it’s not just the inmates—some of these scams wouldn’t even be possible without help from inside. Phones don’t just appear magically; when prison officers are turning a blind eye or worse, actively facilitating these schemes, it’s no wonder people keep getting duped. Until there’s serious accountability and monitoring of staff, the problem will never be solved
    Reply

  • CKH August 18, 2025, 11:18 AM

    Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Whenever phones get in, inmates find ways to manipulate people outside—using trust, fear, or even fake authority to exploit them. The fact that they’re invoking prominent family names shows how sophisticated some of these schemes have become. Confiscating phones is necessary, but unless the system addresses both the smuggling networks and the way inmates communicate externally, these scams will keep happening. Public awareness is key—people need to verify every request before acting
    Reply

  • Name August 18, 2025, 3:09 PM

    Comment *
    Reply

  • Informed citizen August 18, 2025, 7:18 PM

    Imagine sitting in prison and still scamming hardworking people smh.
    Reply

  • fedrick August 19, 2025, 1:08 PM

    We just wanna know when Angela Mejia is gonna be kicked out of the prison so we can deal with her publicly
    Reply

  • Ben Simmons August 19, 2025, 1:53 PM

    Antiguans and Barbudans Let’s be real for once in our pathetic lives……these scams are only happening because some officers are part of the problem. Phones don’t walk through the gates on their own. When staff are pocketing cash or turning a blind eye, the inmates have free rein to target the public. Until there’s real accountability and corrupt officers are held responsible, nothing is going to change
    Reply

Submit a comment

More from Antigua and Barbuda

View section

By clicking "Accept", you consent to our website's use of cookies to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.

Cookie Settings

Privacy Summary

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best possible user experience. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our site or helping our team understand which parts of the site you find most interesting and useful.

More information in Privacy Policy