Money laundering couple caught by Bromley Trading Standards (From News Shopper)

Money laundering couple caught by Bromley Trading Standards

4:30pm Monday 8th October 2012 in Bromley By Heloise Wood

A PAIR of fraudsters have pleaded guilty to money laundering following an investigation by Bromley Trading Standards.

Jade Giblin, aged 22, from Colchester, and Warren Vaughan, also aged 22, of no fixed abode admitted they allowed their bank accounts to be used for high value transfers which were scammed from vulnerable victims.

The funds were withdrawn as cash with the money dispersed to crooks who have not yet been traced.

Trading Standards officers became involved when an 86-year-old man from Orpington reported he had been tricked out of £4,500 after being told by an unknown pair of criminals there was a drain problem at his property.

The cash was shown to have gone into Giblin's account through electronic transfer.

Bogus traders made further phone calls demanding more money however the elderly man became suspicious and told Age UK who informed Trading Standards.

The sewage hoax also occurred with an 81-year-old from Eltham who paid £25,000 into Vaughan’s account with other victims from Surrey, Essex and Canning Town transferring money into his account.

Portfolio holder for public protection and safety Councillor Tim Stevens said: "These two individuals allowed their accounts to be used for the paying in of the proceeds of crime, namely frauds where householders who were trusting or elderly or both were persuaded to transfer large sums of money for unnecessary work.

"Bromley Council will always prosecute in these cases so that a very clear message is sent to anyone who recklessly or otherwise becomes involved in these despicable crimes."

The couple were tried at Croydon Crown Court with Giblin pleading guilty to three charges and Vaughan pleading guilty to 11 charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Vaughan was sentenced to two years in prison for each count to run concurrently.

Giblin was jailed for 12 months for each count, to run concurrently, suspended for two years.

She was also issued a 12-month supervision order and ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid community work.