Police charge 6 people in connection with cyber attack on account of bank customer

The six people arrested last week in connection with a multi-million dollar cyber attack on the account of a customer of the National Commercial Bank, have been charged.

 

This was disclosed by Dane Nicholson, Head of the Anti-Fraud Committee of the Jamaica Banker's Association, who said the suspects were charged on Thursday and are booked to appear in court next week.

 

They have been charged with the offences of Conspiracy to Defraud, breaches of the Cybercrime Act, engaging in the Proceeds of Criminal Property and Money Laundering.

 

The six suspects were detained by MOCA detectives on Wednesday during a series of coordinated-targeted operations spanning six locations across four parishes-St Elizabeth, Clarendon, St Catherine and Kingston. MOCA accused them of being involved in a smishing scam which targets the accounts of individuals in various financial institutions. 

  

Investigators alleged that the suspects targeted the account of an elderly NCB customer and stole US$45,000 and J$7.4 million. They then allegedly distributed the funds to a number of beneficiaries using a sophisticated smishing scam. 

 

The attacks are alleged to have taken place in March last year.

 

Smishing is a cyber-attack that uses fake mobile text messages to trick people into downloading malware, sharing sensitive information or sending money to cyber-criminals.