Crooked Siblings' "Uber Knowledge" Scam

Cindy Ughanze

Failed mini-cab drivers were sold secret test answers by a Transport for London employee and her brother to pass the ‘Uber Knowledge’ a court heard today.

University graduate Cindy Ughanze, 28, was employed by the Topographical Assessment Department and sold the information to struggling applicants seeking a private hire vehicle licence (PHVL).

She plotted with her engineering graduate brother Jordan Ughanze, 25, who approached the drivers, charging them £300 to £500 to cheat the test.

The Ughanze’s, both of Goldcrest Way, New Addington, Croydon pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud TfL between February 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018 and will be sentenced on April 29.

One cheat, who paid the Ughanze’s for the answers, passed their re-test with an 88% grade after flunking their first attempt with a miserable 43%.

Croydon Crown Court Judge Deborah Charles said: “This is not an equivalent of The Knowledge, but is the Uber-equivalent of The Knowledge.

“Both defendants should bring overnight bags when they return to be sentenced, they must be prepared. All options remain open.”

Prosecutor Shannon Revel said: “Applicants must show they have a working knowledge of the geography of London and the sealed test results are taken to TfL.

“Cindy gave the details of the failed applicants to Jordan, who offered them a way to pass the test for a fee and he filled-in the fresh examination papers and they would be swapped by his sister.”

The prosecution is limited to the twenty-two failed applicants, whose details were found in a sports holdall along with blank and completed test papers when police raided the Ughanze’s family home.

Those drivers have been permanently banned by TfL from applying for a PHVL, but not prosecuted, despite participating in a fraud on TfL.

Jordan Ughanze

“The investigation was to target those at the top of the conspiracy,” added Ms Revel, revealing one failed applicant anonymously tipped-off the police when approached by the Ughanze’s.

It is unknown if there are currently more PHVL-holders driving customers around London, who cheated the test. “There was not a queue of applicants outside the police station door because they have also committed fraud.”

Each sibling claims to be the instigator of the conspiracy and mum-of-one Cindy, who has a fraud conviction for trying to avoid parking tickets, say they received £8,000 for their services. 

She was employed by TfL on a £32,000 salary, having abandoned her Masters degree course and is currently in receipt of Universal Credit.

She would log-in to her work computer for up to two hours out-of-hours and was arrested at her desk on May 31, 2018 and taken to Charing Cross Police Station.

Dad-of-one Jordan, an assistant project manger for Network Rail, has convictions for robbery, battery and fraud and is currently having the family council house transferred to his name.

“They have both participated in a thoroughly dishonest enterprise, having been given a chance by the courts after previous offences,” announced Judge Charles.

Referring to Cindy, the judge added: “Having been caught twice in her life for being dishonest, surely now is the time to show some honesty.”