Lloyds staff ‘helped gang steal millions’

LLOYDS Bank workers helped fraudsters steal millions of pounds using a string of impersonators, a court heard.

Insiders scoured the computer system for rarely-accessed accounts holding large sums of money before passing the details to criminals.

They also ordered new bank cards so that imposters could pose as the customers and set up transfers of hundreds of thousands of pounds. The money was then laundered through a series of bogus companies before being moved offshore to prevent it being recovered, it is claimed.

Bank workers Courtney Ayinbode, 29, Tajinder Galsinh, 35, Molly Jones, 24, and Benjamin Omoregie were all allegedly involved in the ‘sophisticated’ scam.

Kushveer Raulia, 25, is said to have operated a network of bogus companies to launder the proceeds while Parvez Hussain, 50, allegedly laundered some of the cash. The first victim lost £750,975 in three days after his account was accessed by both Ayinbode and Omoregie at the Balham and Streatham branches of Lloyds TSB in July 2013.

Ayinbode, of South Norwood, south-east London, denies conspiracy to defraud. Hussain, of Romford, east London, denies converting criminal property. Jones, of Leighon-Sea, Essex, and Omoregie, of no fixed address, have admitted involvement. Galsinh, of Hayes, west London, is not before the court. The trial continues.