MOCA arrests two more in multimillion-dollar NCB phishing scam

Two more persons connected to the ongoing investigation of a $47.5 million phishing scam at the National Commercial Bank (NCB) have been apprehended by The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) this morning.

The latest suspects are a 25-year-old man of Cassava Piece, Kingston, and a 24-year-old woman of Gregory Park, Portmore.

MOCA says the man was picked up on Thursday morning at his Cassava Piece Road address, while the woman was arrested on Wednesday at her home.

Director of Communications at MOCA, Major Basil Jarrett, says they were detained in operations by MOCA agents and personnel from the Jamaica Constabulary Force. He says a number of evidentiary items were also seized.

The suspects are expected to be charged subsequently, Jarrett has disclosed.

The latest arrests bring to 14, the total number of persons held in connection with the cybercrime which fleeced NCB customers of over $47 million dollars.

MOCA says the offences took place between April and June 2022, when members of an organised crime syndicate targeted 16 NCB accounts in a phishing scam and transferred the funds to a number of beneficiaries' accounts.

"Today's arrests are a demonstration of MOCA's commitment to bringing everyone involved in this massive crime before the courts", says Jarrett, adding that "fraud and other cybercrimes of this nature are high on MOCA's agenda due to their increasing occurrence in the criminal underworld".

According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica in its latest Jamaica National Crime Victimisation Survey, which was published last week, there were 88,108 incidents of bank/consumer fraud reported in 2023.

MOCA says this is an indication that white-collar crimes are becoming just as prevalent as street crimes.

Jarrett is urging members of the public to remain vigilant in their online activities and to report any suspicious activities involving financial transactions to the MOCA's tip line at 888-MOCA-TIP.

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