Three on fraud charges after ‘eCrime’ probe
THREE people allegedly heavily involved in the running of copycat Government websites have been given unconditional bail to appear at York Crown Court next month.
This follows their appearance last week at York and Selby Magistrates Court.
The three – Claire Hall, 39; Peter Hall, 44; and Collette Ferrow, 45 – have been charged with a number of offences relating to the running of a series of websites. These include conspiracy to defraud (all three) and conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer or remove criminal property (all three).
In the case of the Halls, whose address was given as West Tisted, Arlesford in Hampshire, they have been charged with a number of offences under Unfair Trading Regulations.
These include the operation of websites – providing driving licences, payment of the London Congestion Charge or provision of the European Health Insurance Card – all set up to mislead the ‘average consumer to take a transactional decision he would not have taken otherwise’.
The charges follow an investigation by the eCrime unit of National Trading Standards and arrests made in early summer last year.
The three directors of Who4, operator of tax return gateway and other copycat sites, are due to appear before York and Selby Magistrates Court in the next couple of weeks.
They face similar charges to those faced by the Halls and Ferrow.
They are Michael Hughes, from Hartlepool; James Wyatt from Blyth, Northumberland; and Stephen Oliver, from West Boldon, County Durham.