Woman, 25, charged with scamming 200 people out of €1 million

A 25-year-old St Paul’s Bay woman has been accused of duping some 200 people by impersonating local banks and defrauding the victims out of €1 million.

Tammy Caruana, currently unemployed, was arraigned on Tuesday morning, where she denied all charges, including money laundering, fraud, and being part of an organised crime group and criminal association.

Details about the arrest were scant, but in a police statement released on Monday, it was revealed that the woman was arrested with an 82-year-old man, believed to be her grandfather, in connection with an online fraud case.

The arrests were made following an extensive investigation by the Financial Crime Investigations Department.

"The woman is suspected of being the principal local actor in an online fraud scheme through which she had allegedly impersonated a local bank. To date, the police have identified approximately 200 victims, who collectively suffered losses amounting to €1 million," the police said.

Investigations have linked the woman to an international criminal network.

The arrests in Malta were made in coordination with Europol and the Irish and UK authorities.

In Malta, the police seized €8,000 in cash from a residence in Paola, while another search in Qrendi resulted in the seizure of several mobile phones and electronic devices.

Searches conducted by the Gardai (Irish police) resulted in the seizure of several mobile phones and electronic devices.

Defence lawyer Roberto Spiteri requested bail.

Prosecutor Mauro Abela objected, arguing that the woman was being charged with very serious crimes involving some 200 victims, as far as the police have so far established.

The AG lawyer stressed that their main fear concerned the tampering of the evidence due to the modus operandi of the scam.

While the devices she used have been seized by the police, there is information stored on the cloud which could be easily deleted without having access to the said device.

He also highlighted that other European authorities carried out similar operations in their countries in connection with the same case.

Abela also highlighted the lack of a fixed address and employment, and said that she would need money to sustain herself.

Spiteri countered that during her statement to the police, the woman was given disclosure, and the police have in their hands information gathered from service providers, local and foreign banks, which his client cannot tamper with.

He stressed that the investigation has been going on for months, and a lot of evidence has already been preserved. He added that the woman’s mother was ready to support her.

Telegram chats

It also transpired that the woman exercised her right and did not provide her passwords to the police, and the evidence obtained from her devices was obtained after the police managed to access them.

“It is thanks to the police who managed to open the devices,” Abela stressed, adding that there was information on Telegram chats which can be easily deleted.

Prosecutor Marica Ciantar added that there was a fear she would obstruct the administration of justice and commit other crimes.

Bail was denied. The court upheld a freezing order request by the prosecution.

Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo presided. AG lawyers Mauro Abela and Marica Ciantar prosecuted, assisted by police inspector Claire Vella Borg.

Lawyers Roberto Spiteri and Franco Galea appeared for the accused. Lawyer Stefano Filletti appeared on behalf of Bank Of Valletta.