KINGSTON, Jamaica — Two more people have been arrested in connection with an $80 million phishing scam at the National Commercial Bank (NCB) following operations on Wednesday.

The Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) arrested

26-year-old Shanielle Smith and 24-year-old Brandon Billings of Nannyville, Kingston and Twickenham Park, St Catherine, at their homes on Wednesday April 15 following an early morning operation conducted by MOCA agents and lawmen.

In a statement, MOCA said 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.

Both suspects were held and a number of evidentiary items 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  Director of Communications Major Basil 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.

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.