Europol operation: Tammy Caruana accused of €1m fraud

This is the 25-year-old woman accused of scamming hundreds of people out of as much as to €1 million.

Tammy Caruana, from St Paul’s Bay in Malta, was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to defrauding around 200 people by posing as a bank.

Caruana, who told the court she is unemployed, was arrested alongside her 82-year-old grandfather on February 2.

She was charged following an extensive online fraud investigation carried out by the Malta Police Force’s Financial Crimes Investigations Department in coordination with Europol and authorities in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Police have described Caruana as the main “local actor” suspect who is believed to have operated an online fraud scheme in which she allegedly impersonated a bank.

Investigators have so far identified about 200 victims who collectively suffered losses amounting to €1 million.

Police said their inquiries have linked Caruana to an international criminal network with connections to Ireland and the UK.

It prompted a “day of action” in a Europol-led operation carried out in Malta and the United Kingdom, as well as in Donegal.

Some of the devices seized by Maltese police 

Officers here with the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) seized electronic devices “of evidential value” and while no arrests have been made, investigations are said to be “ongoing”.

Police carried out a simultaneous operation, in coordination with Europol and Irish and UK authorities, that led to the seizure of €8,000 in cash from a residence in Paola in Malta and several mobile phones and electronic devices during another search in Qrendi.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo, upheld a request for the seizure and freezing of Caruana’s assets.

The defence requested bail, but the prosecution objected, citing the gravity of the alleged offences, Malta Today reports.

Tammy Caruana 

Prosecutors argued it was premature to grant provisional release, as police still need to extract information from the accused’s electronic devices.

They pointed out that there is a risk that she could access her online platforms and delete data if released.

Magistrate Farrugia Frendo denied the request for bail.

The “extensive online fraud investigation” was carried out by the Malta Police Financial Crime Investigations Department on February 2, it has been further reported.

“The Irish Garda seized multiple mobile phones and electronic devices during its own searches,” Malta Today reports.

“To date, the police have identified approximately 200 victims, who collectively suffered losses amounting to €1 million,” a police statement reads.

“Police investigations have linked the woman to an international criminal network with links to Ireland and the United Kingdom.”

“Police investigations are still ongoing.”