ICE HSI takes down fraudulent telemarketing network in Jamaica

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents combat crime across the globe. With offices in 47 countries, the agency is committed to bringing down international criminal networks that threaten the national security of U.S. citizens.

Last month, ICE HSI special agents and representatives from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service supported "Operation Due North," a series of search warrants led by the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Customs Department, targeting criminal networks that specialized in telemarketing/lottery fraud in and around Montego Bay, Jamaica. Elderly U.S. citizens were often their victims.

"Working with our local law enforcement counterparts, we assisted in devising a disruption strategy to reduce telemarketing fraud activity in country," said Christopher Merendino, assistant attaché for ICE HSI in Jamaica. "HSI utilized proven operational concepts such as actionable intelligence driven enforcement as well as funding, training, and new technologies to build the capacity of Jamaican investigators to identify and pursue the most prolific fraudsters."

Jamaican law enforcement officers searched a total of 12 locations and arrested 14 individuals. They also collected significant amounts of evidence indicating telemarketing fraud, including computer equipment, lead lists of prospective victims, bank account documents and large amounts of cash.

Whenever possible, money seized through this operation will be returned to individuals who were victims of telemarketing fraud.

Learn more about ICE HSI's efforts to combat telemarketing fraud.