A 25-year-old man has been jailed for his role in a sophisticated cyber attack stealing more than £1.25m.
Lanre Mullins-Abudu, of Weimar Street, Putney, received the biggest sentence in the gang and was slapped with eight years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit fraud, two counts of conspiracy to steal and possession of articles for use in fraud.
Nine members of the gang, who stole money by remotely controlling bank accounts, were sentenced to a total of 24 years at Southwark Crown Court today.
The organised criminals also used bank and credit cards from approximately one million intercepted or stolen letters to buy Rolex watches, designer jewellery and high-value items worth more than £1 million.
The gang used a device known as a Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM) switch to access and control Barclays and Santander bank accounts remotely on three occasions.
The KVM device
Bank cards uncovered by the police
DCI Jason Tunn, of the MPS Cyber Crime Unit, said: “Today’s convictions are the culmination of a long and highly complex investigation into an organised crime group whose aim was to steal millions of pounds from London banks and credit card companies.
“This case demonstrates the sheer investigative skill we are able to apply to tackling cyber crime, as we continue working to keep London people and businesses safe from cyber criminals.
“We are determined to make London a hostile place for cyber criminals and not allow the internet to be a hiding place for those who defraud people in the capital.”
Other members of the cyber gang have been sentenced and more are due to be sentenced in the coming months. Five others have been charged in connection with this investigation.
Tony Colston-Hayter, 49, of Seymour Street, Marble Arch, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to steal, two counts of possession of articles for use in fraud and theft.
Darius Valentin Boldor, 34, of Ebury Bridge Road, Chelsea, was imprisoned for two years and six months for fraud and conspiracy to steal.
Dean Outram, 32, of Clifford Gardens, Willesden Junction, was sentenced to three years in prison for two counts of conspiracy to steal.
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