Credit Card Fraud Ring Busted on Cruise Ship Casino Lands Four in Jail

Four individuals who were sailing on a four-day cruise from Miami were recently charged after allegedly attempting to pull off a credit card fraud scheme. The quartet boarded the MSC Magnifica last week.

However, they couldn’t enjoy their time as cruise ship security uncovered their alleged fraudulent scheme that involved credit cards. This ultimately led to their arrest upon return to Port Miami on Friday, as announced by 7 South Florida.

The suspects allegedly tried to use fraudulent credit cards and access “large amounts of money.” The group planned to use the money for casino gambling, including slots and other games at MSC Magnifica’s casino, an arrest report reveals.

Yet, security at the cruise ship identified the group and its intentions. Subsequently, the security contacted US Customs and Border Protection, reporting the alleged fraudulent activity. They were instructed not to allow the four individuals to leave the ship during its stops in the Bahamas.

Suspects Arrested and Charged

Upon returning to Miami, the four MSC Magnifica passengers were detained. Each of them faced charges and was booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail. The list of suspects includes three males and one female.

They are between the age of 28 and 38 and each of them is facing a range of charges, including grand theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, as well as orchestrating a scheme with the intent to defraud. Three of the suspects face additional charges related to the fraudulent use of identification.

So far there is no evidence suggesting that further people were involved in the fraudulent scheme. Law enforcement did not confirm whether or not the actions of the four individuals resulted in monetary losses to the casino.

Still, an investigation into the group alleged that they used fraudulent credit cards to purchase the tickets for the trip with MSC Magnifica.

Casino gambling on cruise ships is a popular form of entertainment. Although at sea, cruise ships oblige with local regulations which means that whenever they visit a location where gambling isn’t permitted, the casino remains closed.

Usually, cruise ships that offer casino gambling need to be at least 12 nautical miles away from the coast of the territory where gambling is illegal in order to offer the activity. In cases where the destination permits gambling, no actions are required.

Earlier this year, a cruise line got into hot water after one casino patron took his own life. As the ship was approaching Sydney, Australia, the 50-year-old man, stressed by a piling gambling debt, took his own life by jumping into the sea.