involvement in an internet banking scam.
The young Nigerians based in Manchester, UK were
recently punished by a Crown Court for their part in a
Nigerian inspired internet banking scam which could
have netted a phenomenal £19million after hacking
the accounts of nearly 2,500 people.
The Mail Online reported today that Aderoju
Bammeke, 22, and his girlfriend Jessica Ogunyemi,
20, both of Manchester, were the UK 'platform' for a
Nigerian 'phishing' scam that made £41,000 in just
two months.
The plot, alleged to be masterminded by a gang
based in Nigeria, involved sending fake emails to
customers of banks including Barclays and Halifax.
According to The Mail report, the emails told
recipients that their accounts had been hacked and
asked them to complete a form with their log-in
details.
"But when victims obliged, Bammeke stepped in and
helped the gang log in to steal money.
"Fashion marketing student Ogunyemi, his girlfriend
at the time, helped him launder the proceeds by
putting funds in accounts, hiding cash and allowing
him to buy her a £2,400 Vauxhall Corsa.
"Bammeke has now been jailed for three-and-a-half
years at Manchester Crown Court after admitting
conspiracy to commit fraud and unauthorised
computer use.
"Ogunyemi admitted five counts of money
laundering and was given a suspended prison
sentence.
"Investigators found evidence of the scam on seven
devices at Bammeke's home, which had accessed
181 accounts from his address.
"But Barclays found 2,439 customers had been
affected and investigators say the true scale of the
fraud will never be known.
"Bammeke admitted he had been involved in the
scam for more than a year. He played a 'key role' as
England's 'platform' for the scam, the court heard.
"He said if the gang had tried to log into accounts
from Nigeria it would have triggered the banks'
alarm systems.
"Simon Nichol, defending Bammeke, said he felt
regret and remorse for his actions.
"He said his involvement – which began in an effort
to tackle student debt – was 'sporadic' and although
the scam was large scale with international
dimensions, Bammeke's part was not.
"He added: 'They needed a platform in this
jurisdiction and they needed someone to provide
that platform. He allowed them to use his computer
remotely. He expresses further regret that he got his
girlfriend involved in this.'
"Michael Lavery, defending Ogunyemi, said she had
brought shame on her family, including her train
driver father and mother who works for Manchester
council.
"He said she had been 'naive', was predicted to get a
first in her degree and was no longer in a relationship
with Bammeke.
"Bammeke had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing
to conspiracy to commit fraud and unauthorised
computer use while Ogunyemi admitted five counts
of money laundering.
"Sentencing Bammeke, Judge Recorder Gibson said:
'This in my opinion was a sophisticated fraud, a
clever fraud and a fraud which could very easily have
resulted in very much more substantial money being
stolen.'
"He jailed Ogunyemi for a year, suspended for two
years, and ordered her to complete 180 hours'
unpaid work.
Sent From David Aniemeka
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