FID says two arrested and charged in bank fraud scheme

By Lorraine Mendez    

 

The Financial Investigations Division (FID) and its partners say they have made another significant dent in the operations of fraudsters who target bank customers.

 

This follows last Thursday's arrest and charge of two people the police believe are major players in a financial fraud scheme being investigated by the Constabulary Financial Unit.

 

Officers from the FID, Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigations Branch (CTOC) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force executed a coordinated operation resulting in the arrest and charge of Javina Baker and Daniel McNaughton, of Kingston 11 addresses.

 

The authorities say they are conducting forensic analysis on multiple cellular phones seized during the operation.

 

Baker and McNaughton have been slapped with multiple charges including conspiracy to defraud, unauthorised access to computer data, making a device available for committing an offence, simple larceny, possession of criminal property and engaging in a transaction involving criminal property.

 

Keith Darien, head of the Financial Investigations Division, says over the last 12 months, the FID has identified and received multiple reports of a surge in fraudulent schemes targeting banks and their customers. 

 

"We have allocated resources to this emerging trend aimed at investigating and prosecuting all persons involved, including those who facilitated the crime by allowing the use of their bank accounts to launder money fleeced from victims' accounts," Mr. Darien reported.

 

He urged persons to "resist the temptation of getting involved in financial crimes", warning that "the FID and its partners are adequately resourced to investigate these matters and ensure that you do not benefit from the proceeds of crime". 

 

Over the last year, 15 people have been charged and placed before the courts for their involvement in the theft of bank customer credentials and personal data, subsequently enabling the illicit use of the victims' money, primarily through online transactions.

 

The FID says it is investigating several other people suspected to be involved in the fraudulent scheme targeting bank customers.