Harrods fake jobs ‘scam’ defendants discussed how to split proceeds
10 October 2013
An Old Bailey court yesterday heard evidence of online messaging conversations in an alleged £1m false jobs ‘scam’ involving fictitious jobs at Harrods in which two defendants discussed how to split up the proceeds of the alleged crime.
Thu, 10 Oct 2013An Old Bailey court yesterday heard evidence of online messaging conversations in an alleged £1m false jobs ‘scam' involving fictitious jobs at Harrods in which two defendants discussed how to split up the proceeds of the alleged crime.
The court was read transcripts of chat logs, which the prosecution says are between brothers Ajibola and Babatunde Akinlabi. The details were recovered from computers seized by the police during their investigations into the alleged scam that was said to have begun in August 2010.
Details of the conversations read out in court included the two discussing how the proceeds from the alleged scam would be split, as well as references to the credit and bank account details of alleged victims.
In one case, Walton Hornsby, prosecuting, read out a transcript of one chat log conversation in which the two defendants discussed splitting the proceeds of a card with a £7k limit 50:50.
The court heard how after his arrest Ajibola Akinlabi told the police that one of the conversations had been about tuition fees, and another about financial advice.
Other exchanges read to court included email addresses, telephone numbers and three-digit card security numbers belonging to alleged victims.
Giving evidence, police officer Detective Sergeant Frank Tutty said he believed that the defendants had plans to recruit people to work on the inside in various companies, including William Hill, Corals, Barclays and Halifax, with the intention of carrying out card fraud.
The prosecution alleges that jobseekers applying for fictitious jobs at Harrods lost up to £4.7k each after they downloaded software that asked them to provide their bank account details. The gang is alleged to have hired ‘mules’ to withdraw money from these accounts. The fictitious jobs were posted on classified ad site Gumtree.
Ajibola Akinlabi, Babatunde Akinlabi and four other defendants, all from South London, deny conspiracy to defraud. The case, which is expected to finish at the end of October, continues.
The court was read transcripts of chat logs, which the prosecution says are between brothers Ajibola and Babatunde Akinlabi. The details were recovered from computers seized by the police during their investigations into the alleged scam that was said to have begun in August 2010.
Details of the conversations read out in court included the two discussing how the proceeds from the alleged scam would be split, as well as references to the credit and bank account details of alleged victims.
In one case, Walton Hornsby, prosecuting, read out a transcript of one chat log conversation in which the two defendants discussed splitting the proceeds of a card with a £7k limit 50:50.
The court heard how after his arrest Ajibola Akinlabi told the police that one of the conversations had been about tuition fees, and another about financial advice.
Other exchanges read to court included email addresses, telephone numbers and three-digit card security numbers belonging to alleged victims.
Giving evidence, police officer Detective Sergeant Frank Tutty said he believed that the defendants had plans to recruit people to work on the inside in various companies, including William Hill, Corals, Barclays and Halifax, with the intention of carrying out card fraud.
The prosecution alleges that jobseekers applying for fictitious jobs at Harrods lost up to £4.7k each after they downloaded software that asked them to provide their bank account details. The gang is alleged to have hired ‘mules’ to withdraw money from these accounts. The fictitious jobs were posted on classified ad site Gumtree.
Ajibola Akinlabi, Babatunde Akinlabi and four other defendants, all from South London, deny conspiracy to defraud. The case, which is expected to finish at the end of October, continues.
