Lloyds Bank call centre duo banged up for data fraud

Companies have long been warned about “the enemy within” but further proof of the need to keep a closer eye on your own staff has emerged after two Lloyds Bank customer service advisers have been jailed for a total of 5 years and 4 months for their part in a telephone scam which netted just £42,000 from customers.
Adam Lorgat and Saad Hussain conned a total of 45 customers during the fraud conspiracy while working at the Lovell Park call centre in Leeds.
Leeds Crown Court heard customers would make genuine calls to the bank seeking assistance and they were asked for account details, including a sort code and security numbers. The dodgy duo then recorded customers’ details and passed them on to others who made fraudulent calls to the bank.
Those callers then used those details in automated system to request sums of money to be transferred into other accounts. The court heard the gang recruited vulnerable people who were willing to have funds transferred into their bank accounts.
Sums were later withdrawn from banks and cash machines before being handed over to the gang.
The deception came to light after Lloyds became aware of the deception and contacted police. Both men pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position.
Lorgat of Huddersfield was jailed for two years, 11 months. Hussain of Bradford was jailed for two years, five months.
Five other men were jailed for a total of 13 years, nine months over their roles in the conspiracy.
Detective Inspector Phil Jackson, of Leeds District Serious Organised Crime Unit, said: “Lorgat and Hussain abused their positions of trust as bank employees to carry out a determined and carefully orchestrated fraud that saw tens of thousands of pounds stolen from customers’ accounts.
“We hope their convictions will send a very clear deterrent message to others who involve themselves in frauds of this nature and highlight the serious penalties they can expect.”