Cyber crooks caught! Dagenham duo slapped with jail and community orders for massive phone upgrade scam
Fraudsters nabbed after six-year phone and bank scam
A man and woman from Dagenham have been sentenced for a widespread phone upgrade and bank account scam. Oluwaseun Ajayi, 39, was handed five years and six months behind bars. His partner, 49-year-old Inga Irbe, got 12 months community order plus 170 hours unpaid work.
The pair were convicted by a jury at Croydon Crown Court on 27 November 2019, found guilty of conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation between February 2012 and May 2018.
Over 700 accounts hacked in £12,000 phone upgrade racket
Between 2012 and 2018, Ajayi and Irbe compromised more than 700 bank and mobile phone accounts to place upgraded phone orders. The mobile phone fraud alone is believed to have cost victims over £12,000.
They also opened bank accounts, loans, and credit cards in people’s names without consent. Police swooped on their home on 22 November 2016, arresting both for Fraud by False Representation.
Police uncover stash of phones, laptops, bank cards in second raid
A second police raid in September 2018 revealed a haul of mobile phones, tablets, laptops and bank cards in different names. Officers also found £1,200 in £50 notes hidden at their property.
Ajayi was also busted for refusing to hand over his phone’s PIN under a legal notice, adding to his charges.
Met Police relentless in hunt for cyber crooks
Detective Inspector Gary Myers from the Met’s Cyber Crime Unit said: “Ajayi and Irbe committed these offences with pre-planning and deception but could not fool our officers. Our thorough investigation has brought these criminals to justice.”
“Cyber-crime is complex, but the Met will not stop chasing those who steal money behind keyboards and ruin lives.”
