THE Montego Bay police have cracked a major fraud ring operating in the city and this week arrested four people.

The four, all residents of Montego Bay, were charged with defrauding two Americans of almost half-a-million dollars. They are scheduled to return to court on December 19.

They are:

* Marlene Brown, 29 year-old sales representative of Flankers,

* David Virgo, a 22 year-old higgler from Gordons Crescent in Granville;

* Natalie Reid, 24, sales representative of Porto Bello, and

* Andrew Gordon, 28, a higgler of Flankers.

They were this week brought before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court to face charges of obtaining money by false pretenses and conspiracy, in connection with the receipt of US$10,300 (J$494,000).

Allegations are that the quartet telephoned a number of persons in the United States, informing them that they were sweepstakes winners or winners of the Australian lottery. The “lucky winners” were then convinced to send money to the four before they could receive their winnings.

The Montego Bay fraud squad theorises that a number of persons had been fleeced, as the scheme had been going on since September of last year. But to date, only two persons have brought charges against the group who are said to have specially targeted gamblers and persons who normally donate funds to charity.