The sentencing on 29 June 2023 followed a successful investigation by the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), a specialist police unit sponsored by the banking and finance industry that investigates the criminals responsible for fraud.

Daniel Adeyeye, from South London, was initially identified when he was trying to open bank accounts in the names of others, using fraudulent documentation. After further investigation, it was revealed that he possessed banks cards in the names of others, using them to receive fraudulent payments from email diversion scams – where he would contact businesses and charities requesting that payments are made for services to a different payment account.

The fraud was reported by the bank when Adeyeye used counterfeit utility bills in an attempt to open accounts at a correspondence address which he controlled. It was then referred to the DCPCU to investigate the case. Officers executed a warrant at his home address and seized a mobile device which found evidence including images of fraudulent bank cards, and images which showed the proceeds of the fraud.

Evidence also showed that Adeyeye was part of a gang that laundered the fraud funds. It also showed that Adeyeye was tutoring others in scam techniques and arranging for money mules to be used as part of the fraud. The total fraud from the various identified scams was £290,889 with some of the victims being charities.

Adeyeye received six years and six months imprisonment for his offending.

In August, Adeyeye was served a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO) by a judge to restrict him committing further offences when he leaves prison. The SCPO is a civil order to prevent a serious crime and is given to offenders who have lifelong criminal histories to limit their ability to plan, fund and commit serious crimes in the future.

Ben O’Shea, Detective Constable of the DCPCU, commented:

All fraud has a devastating impact on victims, and it is incredibly cruel for this criminal to target charities. Fortunately, we were able to identify this criminal and bring him to justice.

We would always urge the public to follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign and beware of scams. If you receive a request to change the payment details of an existing supplier, always check with them directly by phone or in person that the new details are correct.