$100-M SIM swop scam - Four before court for alleged fraud

Four persons were on Thursday brought before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court accused of fleecing millions of dollars from the bank accounts of customers of the First Caribbean International Bank.

The crime was allegedly carried out utilising the 'sim swap' method. This occurs where unsuspecting customers' sim cards that are linked to his/her bank account are compromised and the telephone numbers are taken over by fraudsters who then create online banking profiles for the victim's accounts, using the victim's telephone number.

Through this scheme, one account was credited for more than $22 million and the fraud has already racked up $100 million.

The four accused in the First Caribbean case are Dossain Moulton, Akeem Plummer, Martina Shim and Denoy Hermitt who are charged with various fraud-related offences. They have not yet entered a plea.

Moulton, an accountant, is being charged with three counts of conspiracy to defraud, simple larceny and three counts of facilitating a transaction involving criminal property.

Plummer is being charged with three counts of conspiracy to defraud, two counts of facilitating a transaction involving criminal property.

Call centre employee

Shim, a call centre employee, is charged with two counts of simple larceny, two counts of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of engaging in a transaction that involves criminal property.

Hermitt, a call centre employee, has a charge of simple larceny, conspiracy to defraud and engaging in a transaction that involves criminal property.

When the accused appeared before Senior Parish judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague the allegations are that the First Caribbean International Bank made a report to the Constabulary Financial Unit of occurrences of fraud and larceny, being committed by a 'syndicate' who manipulated the bank's online banking platform to conduct fraudulent transactions.

The accused, who were granted station bail of $200,000 each, have been ordered finger-printed by the judge. They have also been ordered to surrender their travel documents, and stop orders were imposed.

They are expected to return to court December 13.