A Greenwich High St bank teller tricked family members into handing over £68,000 for “investments” and instead used the money to fund her “lavish lifestyle.”

Hien Ly, 40, of The Drake Deptford, targeted three family members, convincing them to hand over large sums of money by assuring them that as an employee she would be able to secure good rates for them.

Once the victims were trapped into a deal with her, she would pursue them for further funds, stating costs had changed and that the property or investments would be lost without the injection of extra capital.

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The victims lost a combined total of £68,499 in the series of frauds by Ly.

Ly was arrested at her workplace by officers on May 20 2019 after being reported via Action Fraud.

Police Constable Stewart Bold, from the Economic Crime Team, said: “Ly used her position as a bank employee to fraudulently steal money.

“She was deemed a success by her family, which she used to gain their trust. Her family members invested their money with her believing it was not only safe but it was going to gain them profits in the future.

“Ly did not invest any of the money and despite supplying the victims with documents showing financial returns and property purchases, she had in fact used the money to fund her own lavish lifestyle.

"She has left the victims without savings and at a great financial loss through her greed and selfishness.

"This case is all the more shocking given she targeted her own family in the crime”.

She appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday, and pleaded guilty to ten counts of fraud.

She will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, May 11.