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Fraudsters who offered a “bespoke criminal banking service” for eBay scammers have been jailed for 19 years.
Six men and a woman admitted a conspiracy in which 62 false bank accounts were set up which received £414,000 from people attempting to buy goods online.
The gang defrauded victims all over the UK, including Bristol - and police believe the total they gained from their scams was more than £1 million
Organiser Vasile Durescu flaunted the trappings of his success by buying a prestige Mercedes AMG sports car, expensive watches and clothes.
The gang was lured by the promise of easy money without getting caught.
But it was busted following an investigation by the Bristol-based South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, which liaised with other UK police forces, after a complaint of fraud was made by someone living in Hotwells.
Seven members were sentenced in a two-day hearing at Bristol Crown Court.
They were: Vasile Durescu, 28, of Cross Flats, Leeds; Anca Feraru, 28, of Cross Flats, Leeds; Gabriel Anescu, 27, of Woodlea Mount, Leeds; Liviu Tevelei, 32, of Thirlestone Avenue, Oldham; Miahi-marian Zamfir, 25, of Thirlestone Avenue, Oldham; Oviduandra Florescu, 27, of Radnor Road, Harrow and Marius Cebuc, 29, of Ledbury Road, Peterborough.
Three people bailed by police in the investigation skipped bail and are currently on the run.
Durescu, Anescu, Tevelei, Zamfir and Florescu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to possess false identity documents and conspiracy to convert criminal property (money laundering).
Cebuc pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering while Feraru just pleaded guilty to money laundering.
Judge Mark Horton told them: “This case represents a salutary tale, not only to members of the public who use the internet, but also to banks.
“This type of fraud can be and often is devastating to the public who will quickly be told that trying to pursue their money is less successful than chasing shadows.”
The judge jailed the gang accordingly: Durescu, five years; Anescu, two years and four months; Zamfir, two years and seven months; Florescu, two years and seven months; Tevelei, two years and eight months; Cebuc, two years and six months; Feraru, 18 months.
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/br...ice-say-723638
Six men and a woman admitted a conspiracy in which 62 false bank accounts were set up which received £414,000 from people attempting to buy goods online.
The gang defrauded victims all over the UK, including Bristol - and police believe the total they gained from their scams was more than £1 million
Organiser Vasile Durescu flaunted the trappings of his success by buying a prestige Mercedes AMG sports car, expensive watches and clothes.
The gang was lured by the promise of easy money without getting caught.
But it was busted following an investigation by the Bristol-based South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, which liaised with other UK police forces, after a complaint of fraud was made by someone living in Hotwells.
Seven members were sentenced in a two-day hearing at Bristol Crown Court.
They were: Vasile Durescu, 28, of Cross Flats, Leeds; Anca Feraru, 28, of Cross Flats, Leeds; Gabriel Anescu, 27, of Woodlea Mount, Leeds; Liviu Tevelei, 32, of Thirlestone Avenue, Oldham; Miahi-marian Zamfir, 25, of Thirlestone Avenue, Oldham; Oviduandra Florescu, 27, of Radnor Road, Harrow and Marius Cebuc, 29, of Ledbury Road, Peterborough.
Three people bailed by police in the investigation skipped bail and are currently on the run.
Durescu, Anescu, Tevelei, Zamfir and Florescu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to possess false identity documents and conspiracy to convert criminal property (money laundering).
Cebuc pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering while Feraru just pleaded guilty to money laundering.
Judge Mark Horton told them: “This case represents a salutary tale, not only to members of the public who use the internet, but also to banks.
“This type of fraud can be and often is devastating to the public who will quickly be told that trying to pursue their money is less successful than chasing shadows.”
The judge jailed the gang accordingly: Durescu, five years; Anescu, two years and four months; Zamfir, two years and seven months; Florescu, two years and seven months; Tevelei, two years and eight months; Cebuc, two years and six months; Feraru, 18 months.
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/br...ice-say-723638
