3 Manchester fast-food workers charged for alleged involvement in card-skimming/cryptocurrency laundering ring

Three Manchester fast-food workers have been charged for their alleged involvement in a card-skimming and cryptocurrency laundering ring.

The employees are 29-year-old Shaquiel Salmon of Swaby’s Hope District, 20-year-old Abigail Preddie, a cashier of Confidence Avenue, and 20-year-old Shane Williams, of Knowles Road, all from Manchester.

The workers who were arrested during a special operation on Saturday, are charged with unauthorised access to computer data, simple larceny, conspiracy to defraud, and engaging in a transaction involving criminal property.

Their arrests come after a client of a prominent bank reported unauthorised transactions totalling more than $600,000.

Police say Williams allegedly photographed customers’ credit and debit card information while working in the restaurant’s drive-thru line.

This information was then reportedly used to purchase bitcoin from overseas merchants.

The cryptocurrency was resold and the laundered funds were transferred back into local accounts.

Investigations by the specialised investigation branch’s fraud squad and financial crimes division are ongoing, as the police partner with the bank to further their probe.