Four Arrested in $80 Million NCB Cyber Theft Investigation

Four individuals were arrested this morning as part of an investigation into the alleged theft of over $80 million from the National Commercial Bank (NCB).

The coordinated operation involved personnel from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) and police divisions including St Andrew South, Kingston Eastern, St Catherine South, and St Catherine North.

According to a MOCA media release on Wednesday, the suspects are accused of stealing the funds through phishing, smishing, and vishing attacks between April 2022 and December 2023. Investigators allege that eight NCB account holders were defrauded, with the stolen money transferred to 23 beneficiaries reportedly involved in the scheme.

The four suspects are expected to be formally charged shortly, MOCA confirmed.

For context, phishing and smishing scams involve fraudulent emails and text messages, respectively, designed to mimic legitimate company communications to trick victims into revealing sensitive account information.

Major Basil Jarrett, Director of Communications at MOCA, said this morning’s arrests highlight the ongoing work of the agency’s Cyber-Crime Investigation Unit, especially in light of the growing threat of cyber and cyber-enabled crimes.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant online by verifying the legitimacy of communications and websites they interact with, and to take steps to protect confidential information, particularly as the busy Christmas season approaches.

Jarrett also encouraged anyone with information on cybercrime to contact the MOCA tip line at 888-MOCA-TIP