Criminals sentenced for manipulating banking customers to commit fraud

Criminals have been sentenced for conspiracy to defraud and fraud by false representation to the value of £272,625 and a further count of money laundering for £80,459 following an investigation and arrest by specialist banking industry-sponsored police unit, the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU).

The three men from Peterborough have been sentenced to 5 years and 11 months for tricking customers into handing over their bank details, gaining access to and taking their money. The primary offender, Braden Strowthers, defrauded elderly victims by contacting them, claiming to be from the local council or government organisation and offering them a refund or rebate. He would manipulate customers into handing over banking information and use this to access the victims’ accounts and set up payments into accounts in which he had control over. He would do this by contacting the banks, disguising his voice and pretending to be elderly male and female account holders.

Between 2017 and 2019, there were 70 successful or attempted payments taken fraudulently from victims’ accounts.

In addition, Tyrone Daley and Ross Strowthers supported Braden in the laundering of the stolen money. By acting as money mules, they held and created the bank accounts which Braden Strowthers would send the money to. Through their investigation, the DCPCU found messages on Braden and Tyrone’s phones highlighting their involvement in recruiting more money mules, so that they could use other peoples bank accounts to send money to.

Sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court, Braden Strowthers received 4 years and 4 months for conspiracy to defraud, fraud by false representation and money laundering offences.

Tyrone Daley and Ross Strowthers received 10 months suspended and 9 months suspended respectively for money laundering offences.

The DCPCU’s Detective Constable Colin Calvert said “Braden Strowthers callously exploited vulnerable elderly victims by tricking them into giving him personal and banking details so he could steal their money. Tyrone Daley and Ross Strowthers enabled these crimes by creating mule accounts and helping Braden launder the stolen money.

“Thankfully, by working with the banking and finance industry, we were able to put a stop to this criminal activity. This sentencing should warn anyone who believes they can benefit financially from committing fraud that they will be caught and brought to justice.”