KINGSTON, Jamaica — Law enforcement authorities have taken two additional individuals into custody as part of a sweeping investigation into an $80 million phishing fraud scheme targeting customers of Jamaica’s National Commercial Bank (NCB). The early-morning arrest operation, carried out on Wednesday, April 15, was led by the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) in collaboration with local law enforcement partners from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
Officers took 26-year-old Shanielle Smith, a resident of Nannyville in Kingston, and 24-year-old Brandon Billings, from Twickenham Park in St Catherine, into custody at their respective residences. The pair is alleged to be active members of a transnational organized criminal ring that carried out a sophisticated, multi-year cyber fraud campaign, stealing a collective $80 million from NCB account holders between April 2022 and December 2023. The syndicate used deceptive phishing and smishing tactics to trick victims into surrendering sensitive personal and financial information, which was then exploited to drain accounts.
Following the arrests, investigators seized multiple pieces of physical and digital evidence linked to the scheme from the suspects’ homes. Both Smith and Billings were subsequently transported to MOCA headquarters for processing, where they were formally charged with receiving stolen property and engaging in financial transactions with assets derived from criminal activity.
In an official statement released after the operation, MOCA Director of Communications Major Basil Jarrett reiterated the agency’s commitment to rooting out all those involved in the massive fraud. “MOCA is unrelenting in pursuing those responsible for this theft,” Jarrett said, noting that cyber-enabled fraud schemes have been elevated to a top priority for the agency amid a steady rise in such crimes across Jamaica’s criminal landscape. He also extended formal thanks to JCF partners for their coordinated support that made the latest arrests possible.
As the investigation continues to unfold, Jarrett issued a public warning for all Jamaican residents to maintain heightened vigilance when conducting online activities. He urged community members to immediately report any suspicious activity surrounding financial transactions to MOCA’s confidential tip line at 888-MOCA-TIP.