The Fraud and Economic Offences Department (FED) of the Korps Politie Suriname arrested suspect J.V. on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, on suspicion of fraud and embezzlement. The woman was arrested at her workplace on the Nieuw Weergevondenweg after she had been spotted by members of the Sigma intelligence unit.
The arrest followed reports filed by three individuals, with the initials W.C., B.J. and D.A. They stated that they had wanted to buy mobile phones through an advertisement on Facebook. After contacting the seller via WhatsApp, they were sent a bank account number to which they had to transfer various sums of money as an advance payment.
Police investigation showed that the money ended up in an account at De Surinaamsche Bank in the name of J.V. According to the complainants, the ordered phones were never delivered. After the payments were made, the victims were also blocked via WhatsApp.
During her interrogation, J.V. stated that she believed she was carrying out online work for a legitimate company. According to her, she had made her curriculum vitae and bank account available and received a 10 percent commission on the amounts deposited into her account.
She allegedly used the remaining money, on the instructions of her anonymous employers, to buy US dollars. These funds were then forwarded through the Mooplay application to a specified wallet address.
Following consultation with the Openbaar Ministerie (Public Prosecution Service), J.V. was remanded in custody in the interest of the ongoing investigation.
Police suspect that more people were harmed through the same method. Possible victims are urged to report to the Fraud and Economic Offences Department to officially file a report.
