A notorious online gambler, who created multiple bogus identities to cash in on bonus bets, has received three years for the £80,000 scam.
Andrei Osipau, 35, (pictured) of Sidney House, Royal Herbert Pavillions, Gilbert Close, Woolwich was caught after one online bookmaker received two different passports from him bearing the same photo.
He also used identity cards and false utility bills to open a string of accounts, which rewarded new customers with free credit to place bets.
In the first prosecution of its kind Osipau was indicted with ‘Bonus Abuse’ charges.
He also used online payment providers to transfer profits from scam, opening bank accounts under false names.
He was arrested after a joint investigation by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service Gambling Unit, Project Amberhill, and the UK Gambling Commission.
It was triggered on February 26, last year when Osipau submitted the two passports within twelve minutes.
He was reported to the Gambling Commission who passed it onto the Gaming Unit for investigation.
Officers initially believed the passports were sent from two addresses in Hove and Eastbourne.
Further investigations established that Osipau had masked his computer’s IP address in order to prevent his actions being discovered.
At his address officers discovered more than 5,900 scans of passports, identity cards, utility bills and bank statements relating to individuals from countries including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to five counts of fraud; eight counts of possessing articles for use in fraud and one count of transferring criminal property.
Detective Inspector Ann-Marie Waller - head of the Met’s Gaming Unit - said: “This joint investigation with the Gambling Commission demonstrates the Met’s commitment to combating high tech organised crime.
“The sentence imposed by the judge today should deter anyone considering committing crime involving stolen or compromised identities.”
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