MOCA Makes More Arrests in Multi-Million Dollar Phishing Investigation

The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) has arrested and charged two more suspects in connection with its ongoing investigation into an $80 million phishing scam at the National Commercial Bank (NCB).

Twenty-six-year-old Shanielle Smith and 24-year-old Brandon Billings of Nannyville, Kingston and Twickenham Park, St Catherine, respectively, were arrested at their homes on Wednesday, April 15, following an early morning operation conducted by MOCA agents and officers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) St Catherine South and St Andrew Central divisions.

The two are suspected of being part of an organised criminal syndicate that stole over $80 million from NCB customers between April 2022 and December 2023, using a sophisticated phishing and smishing cyber scam.

According to Major Basil Jarrett, Director of Communications at MOCA, law enforcement teams from MOCA and the JCF conducted simultaneous operations at the two addresses this morning to execute search and arrest warrants. Both suspects were held, and a number of evidentiary items were seized. Smith and Billings were taken to MOCA headquarters, where they were both charged with Receiving Stolen Property and Engaging in a Transaction Involving Criminal Property.

“MOCA is unrelenting in pursuing those responsible for this theft”, said Major Jarrett, adding that “fraud and other cyber-crimes of this nature are high on MOCA’s agenda due to their increasing occurrence in the criminal underworld”. He also thanked MOCA’s JCF partners for their support in this morning’s operations.

Major Jarrett is urging 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.