Two Men Nabbed for Laundering Millions in Smishing Scam
Two men have been convicted of laundering money for a ruthless organised crime gang that swindled victims out of millions via high-tech ‘smishing’ fraud.
Smishing Scandal Exposed by Met Police
Quin Huang, 36, from Newham, and Clarke Daniel Morgan-Findlay, 26, from Lewisham, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of money laundering at Inner London Crown Court. Both await sentencing on 28 September.
The pair were key players in Operation Tritia, a Met Police investigation targeting a UK-wide smishing ring.
How The Scam Worked
- Victims received fake SMS texts mimicking their bank, warning of suspicious payments.
- These texts appeared in the genuine message thread, duping victims into calling a fraudster-controlled number.
- Posing as bank staff, crooks extracted personal banking info and emptied victims’ accounts.
- Funds were funneled into ‘mule’ accounts, set up by Morgan-Findlay recruiting unwitting accomplices.
- Huang and Morgan-Findlay then ‘cashed out’ by splashing stolen cash on luxury goods – designer handbags, jewellery, and gift cards – mostly snapped up in swanky London spots like Oxford Street and Knightsbridge.
Behind the Scenes: Laundering Luxury
Both men kept close contact, orchestrating mule account recruitment and laundering logistics. Morgan-Findlay often tested mule accounts with small payments from his own bank, building trust within the scam network.
After laundering the cash through luxury shopping, the goods were sent back to the organised crime network, perpetuating the fraud cycle.
Damning Evidence & Arrests
Police seized thousands of incriminating messages, photos, and videos from their phones. The Met uncovered a Facebook account used to lure money mules, linking Morgan-Findlay to the scam through a Cartier watch he flaunted in videos.
Morgan-Findlay was first arrested in April 2018 and later re-arrested in June 2020. Huang was also arrested in June 2020, with officers seizing over £107,000 in cash and luxury items.
Both suspects initially denied involvement; Huang claimed he was threatened. They were later charged and convicted for laundering stolen cash.
Detective Constable Ray Black, Met Cyber Crime Unit: “Huang and Morgan-Findlay made their living off the misery of others. While they didn’t directly scam victims, they were key to this organised crime network.”
“Money laundering isn’t a victimless crime. Every pound stolen has ruined the lives of innocent people.”
