Fake Identity, Real Mortgages: The $352m Fraud That Hit Four Jamaican Banks

• A fictitious identity was used to obtain $352 million in mortgages from four banks.
• Properties in upscale St Andrew were fraudulently transferred to the fake identity.
• Mortgages secured from Sagicor, NCB, VMBS and a fourth financial institution.
• The wider scheme is estimated to have defrauded five institutions of over $600 million.
• The NLA title replacement process was exploited to obtain fraudulent duplicate titles.
• Three suspects — including a medical doctor — have been charged by MOCA.

In February and March 2026, Jamaicans following the court listings encountered one of the most technically sophisticated property fraud cases the country has seen. Reporting by the Jamaica Gleaner on February 8 established that an individual operating under the fictitious name “Odain Anthony Lawes” had obtained mortgage loans totalling $352 million from four commercial banks within a single month in 2024. A follow-up Gleaner report on March 19, 2026 confirmed the true identity behind the fictitious name had been established by investigators.

The man behind the false identity was identified as Dwayne Pitter, 44, of Bay Farm Villa, St Andrew. He is one of three individuals charged by the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) in connection with what the agency described as “one of the most elaborate, complex and brazen fraud we have seen to date.”

How the Scheme Worked

The operation required three interlocking components: the fraudulent transfer of legitimate property titles; the creation of false identity documents; and the exploitation of mortgage lending systems at multiple financial institutions. The suspects allegedly obtained access to the original title documents for targeted properties. Armed with forged identification, they visited the National Land Agency, presenting themselves as the legitimate owners and requesting replacement titles on the basis that the originals had been damaged. The NLA, following its standard process, issued new titles. With replacement titles in hand, the property was transferred into the name of the fictitious buyer and mortgaged to a financial institution.

The Properties and Institutions

The scheme focused on upscale residential properties in St Andrew. One property in Barbican Heights was transferred on January 26, 2024 and mortgaged to Sagicor Bank Jamaica for $96 million. Two further Barbican properties were transferred in February 2024 and mortgaged to National Commercial Bank and Victoria Mutual Building Society respectively, each for $80 million. A fourth institution was also named. The total exposure across five financial institutions in the wider scheme is estimated at over $600 million, according to law enforcement sources cited by the Gleaner.

The Three Suspects

The individuals charged are Chloe Douett, 30, a medical doctor from Cherry Gardens, St Andrew; Ivana Campbell, 29, an executive assistant from Cedar Grove, Portmore, St Catherine; and Dwayne Pitter, 44, unemployed, from Olympic Gardens, St Andrew. The professional backgrounds of the accused are notable. The sophistication required — knowledge of how land administration works, ability to produce convincing false identification documents, and capacity to navigate mortgage approval processes across multiple institutions — suggests either significant prior knowledge of the system or access to professional advice.

The NLA Vulnerability

The exploitation of the NLA’s title replacement process is the central vulnerability exposed by this case. The ability to claim that a title has been lost or damaged, and to obtain a replacement on the basis of identity documents that can be forged, creates a point of entry into an otherwise robust system. Property owners in Jamaica are advised to conduct periodic title searches at the NLA’s eLandJamaica portal to verify that no transfers or encumbrances have been placed on their title without their knowledge. Any unexplained transfer or mortgage appearing on a title should be reported immediately to MOCA and to legal counsel.

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