EIGHT MORE ARRESTS IN MOCA MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PHISHING INVESTIGATION

The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) has arrested eight more persons over the last 24 hours, in connection with the ongoing investigation into a $47.5 million phishing scam at the National Commercial Bank (NCB).

The eight persons were held at a number of locations across Kingston and Clarendon, following early morning operations yesterday and today, by MOCA and officers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

According to Major Basil Jarrett, Director of Communications at MOCA, the lawmen went to residences in Whitehall Terrace, Kingston Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Stony Hill and Tavern in Kingston, as well as Longville Park, Clarendon Park and May Pen in Clarendon, to execute arrest warrants on the suspects. The eight persons, which included three females, were taken into custody, following a search of their premises. All eight are expected to be charged shortly.

Today’s arrests bring to twelve, the total number of persons arrested in connection with the cyber-crime which fleeced NCB customers of over $47 million dollars. The offences took place between April and June 2022, when members of an organized crime syndicate targeted 16 NCB accounts in a phishing scam and transferred the funds to a number of beneficiaries’ accounts.

“We take crimes of this nature and magnitude seriously”, said Jarrett, adding that “today’s arrests are a demonstration of MOCA’s resolve to bring everyone involved before the courts”. He also highlighted MOCA’s JCF partners for their role in the operations.

Major Jarrett continues to encourage members of the public to remain vigilant in their online activities and to report any suspicious activities involving financial transactions to the agency’s tip line at 888-MOCA-TIP.