The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the police are investigating multiple identity thefts perpetrated on unsuspecting driver’s license holders in Belize City, some of them very prominent people in the ruling United Democratic Party, whose names were used to collect monies through the international money transfer agent, MoneyGram.
(We don’t know if any prominent Opposition names were also used in the scam.)
Channel 7 broke the story in Thursday night’s newscast, claiming that the personal information of license holders was used to receive money transfers in Belize, ranging from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.
Amandala was able to speak with some well-known sources tonight, who told us they learned of the scam way back in February. No one has yet explained why it is just now coming to the public spotlight.
Our sources indicate that the driver’s license database at the Belize City Council’s traffic department had been used to select names of persons. Those perpetrating the fraud would sign documents claiming to be others, so the transactions would not be linked back to them.
Our sources say the information came to their attention after the arrests of MoneyGram owners, the Coyes, and the New Year’s Eve bust of the $1.5 million, but they have no idea when, and for how long this has been happening.
Michael and Marlene Coye, along with their son Jude, their daughter Melonie and her boyfriend, James Gerou, had been charged at the start of the year in relation to money laundering after the bust at 12 Johnson Street, Belize City.
In March, police blowtorched the Central American Boulevard office of MoneyGram and confiscated electronic and print documents as a part of the FIU investigation.
One woman who had her data stolen to collect a mere $400 told our newspaper that she presumes her signature was also forged to collect the money; however, she does not know if her name was used more than once. She certainly did not collect that $400.
She also surmises that the scam originated from abroad, because she does not know why anyone in Belize would want to use such prominent names for such illegal activity.
Amandala understands that a Senator, well-known female media personalities, city councilors, and a well-connected businessperson are among those whose names were used to perpetrate the fraud.
One city councilor, not a victim of the scam, told us he first learned of it in a caucus meeting earlier this year.
Amandala understands that the police have been visiting some of the persons whose names may have been used in the scam, as a part of the larger FIU investigation.
We were unable to reach FIU’s director, Marilyn Williams, for comment.