Money laundering gang jailed over £1.2m IT fraud

One victim paid out £4,427.96 to fraudsters for non-existent computer problems

Five people who helped launder the proceeds of a £1.2m computer scam have been jailed.

The fraud targeted elderly and vulnerable people, tricking them into paying out thousands of pounds each to fix non-existent IT problems.

Between May 2015 and November 2019 the gang transferred £1,289,837 to two brothers based in India, who had been posing as representatives of HP, Microsoft Norton and Epson to defraud their victims.

Amanda Grigg, 66, of Truro, Gena Harrington, 39, of Birmingham, Bindu Devasia, 49, of Kent, Nicholas Alcide, 40, of Birmingham, and Jose Kuriakose, 50, of Kent, were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Monday.

The court heard victims were told the fictitious problems could be fixed for a fee and were persuaded into allowing remote access to their computers.

One man paid a total of £4,427.96 to people who he believed worked for HP to resolve a supposed issue with his computer.

The money was then filtered through a series of companies set up by the gang before being transferred to India.

An investigation into the money laundering was led by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team, which is based at City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council.

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said the gang had “no qualms about enriching themselves off the back of vulnerable and elderly victims”.

“I hope that the sentences handed down today will serve as a powerful reminder to all money launderers that they risk prosecution - regardless of how well-coordinated their operations may seem,” he added.

The investigation was also supported by officers from West Midlands, Staffordshire and Wiltshire police services.

Amy Hogan-Burney, general manager, cybersecurity policy and protection at Microsoft said: "Microsoft welcomes today's verdict and remains committed to working with governments and across industry to combat tech support fraud and hold perpetrators accountable."

Grigg was jailed for three years, Kuriakose was jailed for four years and two months, and Harrington was jailed for two years and six months. All three were disqualified from being a company director for six years.

Devasia was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was also disqualified from being a company director for six years and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Alcide was given a 15 month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was also disqualified from being a company director for two years and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.