PM Briceño Confirms Credit Card Scam Investigation

Prime Minister John Briceño has confirmed to News 5 that an investigation is ongoing regarding a massive credit card scam.

News 5 first broke news of the scam earlier this month.

Briceño said the government is committed to protecting the call center industry, which employs over 20,000 people and pays roughly $150 million annually, while also taking steps to safeguard local businesses affected by the fraud. Briceño said that victims abroad must file formal police reports for investigations to proceed and said authorities are prepared to increase penalties for offenders if necessary.

The scam, which stretches from U.S. homes to Belize City restaurants, involves employees in call centers illegally collecting U.S. credit card information. They used this data to make purchases at local restaurants, particularly through mobile apps like Chon Saan Palace, causing thousands in losses. News Five’s investigation found over 400 fraudulent chargebacks at one restaurant alone, with some cards being used multiple times over days.

Investigators revealed that call center agents violated Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards by secretly recording card numbers and CVV codes. The stolen data was then used to place food orders, either for delivery or pick-up, without restaurants receiving payment. When businesses like Chon Saan Palace implemented ID verification to stop the fraud, scammers adapted by taking photos of identification cards and continuing the scheme. Some orders were even delivered directly to addresses near call centers.

The investigation also uncovered that gang members are now selling stolen credit card data on WhatsApp, offering names, card numbers, CVVs, and addresses for purchase.