Gang members jailed for insurance scam
THREE gang members who used fraudulent bank cards to claim £95k worth of refunds from car insurance policies have been jailed.
A further 10 fraudsters, from Rochdale, north Manchester and Accrington, were handed suspended sentences and community orders after compromised bank cards were used to purchase insurance, which were later refunded to legitimate bank accounts.
An investigation was launched after staff at insurance company 1st Cental noticed two unusually large refunds for motor insurance policies paid into a bank account belonging to Amjad Mughal of Rochdale. They began an internal enquiry and found 32 other motor insurance policies purchased using fraudulent bankcards.
In each case a few days after the policies were bought each buyer went onto get additional cover for the policy, but this time using a different legitimate bank card belonging to them.
The person claiming to be the policyholder then cancelled it and a full refund was paid onto the legal bankcard. In total more than £95k was refunded into bank accounts belonging to members of the gang. Thirteen people were sentenced between December 2017 and January 30.
Mohammed Shoaib, 22, of Maple Street, Rochdale - 21 months imprisonment for conspiracy to commit fraud.
Waqaas Jabbar, 25, of Heath Street, Rochdale 16 months for conspiracy to commit fraud, suspended for 12 months. 250 hours unpaid work.
Amjad Mughal, 39, of Ramsay Street, Rochdale - six months for conspiracy to commit fraud, suspended for 12 months. 220 hours unpaid work.
Zenab Asif, 23, of Rochdale Rd, Manchester five months for conspiracy to commit fraud, suspended for 12 months. 210 hours unpaid work.
Aqeel Ashraf, 34, of Spinners Green, Rochdale - received five months imprisonment for conspiracy to commit fraud, suspended for 12 months, and 210 hours unpaid work.
Mohammed Mushitaq, 24, of Heath Street, Rochdale - five months imprisonment for conspiracy to commit fraud, suspended for 12 months and 210 hours of unpaid work.
Abdul Mobeen, 27, of Birch Hey Close, Rochdale - five months for conspiracy to commit fraud, susp 12 months. 200 hours unpaid work.
Hamza Matloob, 21, of Denehurt Rd, Rochdale - five months for conspiracy to commit fraud, suspended 12 months. 200 hours unpaid work.
Faiza Arshad, 21, of Drake Street, Rochdale, received three months imprisonment for conspiracy to commit fraud, suspended for 12 months, and 190 hours unpaid work.
Mohammed Abbas, 23, of Maple Street, Rochdale, received two months imprisonment for money laundering.
Arfan Ajaib, 28, Rooley Moor Road, Rochdale, received six weeks imprisonment for money laundering, added to 13 months imprisonment for previous driving offences.
Andrew Marlow, 24, of Dalton Close, Rochdale, received 12 month community order for money laundering, and 160 hours unpaid work.
Yasmin Ali Murphy, 27, of Ormerod Street, Accrington - 12 month community order for money laundering, and 120 hours unpaid work.