A man is due to appear in court this week, charged with money laundering, after a woman reported that $45,000 had been unlawfully transferred from her bank account following a click on a fraudulent link received via a text message.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stated that the suspect, who lives in Laventille, had been charged following an investigation that began on February 13 this year, when the woman made the complaint.
The police stated that the funds were traced to a $40,000, point-of-sale transaction at a business establishment, where evidence later identified the accused as the individual who allegedly conducted the transaction.
The TTPS said it is urging members of the public to remain vigilant when receiving unsolicited messages.
“Fraudulent links sent via text or email allow criminals to gain unauthorised access to personal and financial information, often resulting in significant monetary losses,” the TTPS stated, warning people to verify all messages purporting to be from financial institutions by directly contacting the bank through official channels.
“Avoid clicking on suspicious links or providing personal information online without verification. Report all incidents of suspected fraud immediately to the nearest police station,” the TTPS stated, adding that it “will continue to aggressively pursue offenders who attempt to exploit vulnerable individuals through fraud and deception.” (CMC)
