KINGSTON, Jamaica — Three women are among five people who were arrested and charged for fraud by detectives attached to the Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) in St Catherine.

Alga Logan, Ian Vassell, Colin Clarke, Simone Fraser, and Crystal Watson were charged under the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act 2013 and the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Reports are that the accused were picked up by lawmen during an operation in the parish, after the arrest of Alicia Haughton of Granville, St James who was arrested on Tuesday, March 10 for several offences under the Law Reform Act, including obtaining property by false pretense.

Reports are that Haughton allegedly tricked two United States citizens into sending her approximately US$175,000 through remittance agencies between 2012 and 2014. She then reportedly engaged the services of the five now in custody to collect the cash, which was then handed over to her.

They are scheduled to appear before the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday, July 31.

Jamaicans are being urged not to offer to collect money from persons overseas on behalf of other persons without careful assessment of the motive of the person making the request.