A sophisticated transnational cybercrime network has been uncovered, revealing how Belize-based call center employees systematically compromise US financial data and funnel it to criminal organizations. This elaborate scheme represents a significant breach of payment security protocols with direct ties to gang activity in Belize City.
Investigative journalists have documented a disturbing pattern where Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector employees circumvent Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) by smuggling mobile phones into secure facilities. These devices are used to capture and exfiltrate sensitive financial information including credit card numbers and CVV codes from American consumers.
The stolen data has been primarily monetized through coordinated food delivery fraud targeting establishments like Chon Saan Palace restaurant. Fraudsters exploit the restaurant’s mobile application, placing orders using compromised payment credentials while avoiding detection. The establishment has suffered substantial financial losses exceeding thousands of dollars due to subsequent chargebacks when financial institutions flag fraudulent transactions.
Evidence analysis reveals the alarming scale of this operation: 35 distinct stolen credit card numbers were utilized across 80 fraudulent transactions within a condensed timeframe. One victim, identified only by the surname True, endured $501 in unauthorized charges over just 13 days in December 2024. Similarly, another cardholder named Justice absorbed $943 in fraudulent purchases across a three-week period.
The criminal enterprise has evolved beyond individual fraud into an organized marketplace. WhatsApp communications confirm that gang members now actively trade stolen financial data, offering complete packages including card numbers, expiration dates, CVV codes, and corresponding personal identification details. This underground economy enables secondary fraud markets where criminals purchase validated payment information for immediate misuse.
Despite implementation of enhanced security measures including ID verification requirements, fraudsters adapted by photographing legitimate identification documents to bypass safeguards. Delivery patterns further confirm the operation’s sophistication, with orders frequently routed to known call center locations throughout Belize City.
Law enforcement agencies including the Financial Intelligence Unit face mounting pressure to address this expanding criminal network that transcends national borders and threatens financial security for US consumers while destabilizing Belize’s growing BPO industry.