A Russian posing as a recruiter has been sent to prison for four years for bank card fraud.

Volodymyr Petruk set himself up as a recruitment agent in Fraserburgh Aberdeenshire in order to get a cash machine that he could install on the premises. He then proceeded to use the machine to steal nearly £400,000 from 2,500 victims.

The recruitment agency was a front for Petruk to ‘skim’ cards and thereby steal customers’ personal information.

None of the money has been recovered so far, so the banks will repay the £386,698 that was stolen.

Petruk has denied the charges, but will be deported after serving the four-year jail sentence handed out by Aberdeen Sheriff Court.