Was your identity stolen as part of the Moneygram money laundering scam? That’s the reality that hundreds of Belize City residents face after evidence has emerged that whoever was behind the Money Gram money laundering operation seems to have somehow gotten into the database at the City Traffic Department and used names and personal details of license holders to conduct fraudulent transactions.
Details are still unclear, but here’s a sketch of how it worked. Those operating the scam would use the names, home addresses and driver’s license numbers of unknowing regular Belize City residents to cash Moneygram transfers. When the money was received they used the drivers license information as the ID to collect the money transfer. Whether they printed duplicate drivers licenses or just used the information is not known at this time.
The amounts varied, people we spoke to whose names had been fraudulently used report being unknowingly involved in transactions for as little as one hundred us dollars, up to thousands of dollars. And they’re finding out now because the Financial Intelligence Unit is visiting everyone on what we are told is a very long list showing them Moneygram receipts for money they never received – transactions they never knew about. But sure enough, their name and drivers’ license number is on the receipt – along with a faked signature.
The list of victims of this identity theft includes hundreds of city residents including big names such as prominent media personalities and politicians. It’s a big shock for those we spoke to because most of them have never even received a money transfer. And indeed, it is a frightening revelation of a sinister operation. Regrettably, we were unable to get any comment form the Director of the FIU Marilyn Williams. We’ll keep following the story.
