Seven arrested after taking cut of $10 million scam payout
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Seven people have been arrested after allegedly receiving portions of over $10 million stolen from a single bank customer.
The fraud division of the Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Branch (CTOC) on Tuesday announced the arrests relating to a sophisticated banking scam where unknown culprits posed as bank representatives, both electronically and in-person.
The scammers reportedly used information obtained to gain access to the customer’s bank account, stealing a total of USD$63,871 and JMD$10,162,468 which was then distributed to the accounts of others including the seven accused.
Charged with receiving stolen property are Natanya Murray, a 21-year-old security officer of Portsmouth, St Catherine; 19-year-old Jamiela O’Connor of Hamstead Avenue, Kingston; 21-year-old Rojourn Bowler of Tarrant Drive, Kingston 10; 21-year-old Rojhe Marthluck, a janitor of Cadot Close, Kingston 5; 42-year-old Christopher Fellows, a security officer of Wild Street, Kingston 6; 23-year-old Brithany Smith a trainer of Braeton Meadows, St Catherine and 28-year-old Michael Williams, a carpenter of Old Braeton, St Catherine.
All seven suspects are set to appear in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on January 31, 2025.
The Fraud Division is now advising residents to be cautious of individuals posing as representatives of banks and to refrain from supplying personal banking information to unknown individuals.
Additionally, bank customers are being advised not to grant access to their bank accounts to receive fraudulently obtained funds.
The police are urging anyone with information about this scam or other similar crimes to come forward and assist in the investigation. Police say investigations into this matter are ongoing with the aim of dismantling larger criminal networks.
