Fake Bank Caller Gets 15 Months for £22k Scam
Moisa Constantin-Florin, 24, was locked up for 15 months at Chester Crown Court on 22 December. The East Ham fraudster pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and possession of criminal property.
Victim Tricked Into Moving £22,000
The scam began back in June 2021 when a woman in edinburgh/" title="Edinburgh" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Edinburgh got a chilling call from a man claiming to be from Santander Bank. He warned her of “fraudulent activity” on her account and pushed her to transfer £21,996.38 into a new “secure” account.
Convinced by the caller, she moved the cash – but soon got suspicious and rang Santander herself. The bank confirmed the call was fake and the money had vanished.
Cash Tracked to Florin’s Account
Santander’s investigation revealed the stolen funds hit Florin’s account. While £16,996.38 was recovered, £5,000 had already been shifted to other accounts and lost.
Fugitive Arrested with Cash and Evidence
Florin had fled Northwich by the time Cheshire police got involved. After being flagged as wanted, he was caught in London in August 2022 during a car stop on Barking Road.
Officers found £4,135 in cash, plus phones, SIM cards, and notepads stuffed with bank details. He was charged and finally sentenced last week.
“Florin was extremely convincing when he contacted the victim and persuaded her to transfer all of the money,” said Detective Constable Claire Heatley of Northwich Proactive Team. “Thankfully she reported it quickly and Santander reimbursed her, so she’s not out of pocket.”
“But not everyone is so lucky. In today’s digital banking world, be ultra cautious. Never share passwords or details. If a call sounds dodgy, hang up and call your bank direct or visit in person.”
