Siblings Sentenced For 'Uber Knowledge' Scam

Cindy Ughanze

A Transport for London employee and her brother, who plotted together to give failed mini-cab drivers test answers to pass the ‘Uber Knowledge’, both received suspended prison sentences yesterday.

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.

At least twenty-two failed drivers were assisted, paying a total of approximately £8,000.

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

“You, Cindy worked for TfL and conspired with your brother to assist PHVL applicants to cheat their exams and you did so for money.

“You, Jordan were the salesman, approaching drivers who failed their exam to help them cheat. Their second attempt would be their final attempt and your offer to cheat the system must have been attractive.

“You, Cindy breached the trust of your employer by accessing their systems to obtain details of the applicants.” 

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.

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%.

After that sudden improvement TfL launched an internal investigation.

“That raised suspicions and TfL found the handwriting on the examination paper was markedly different and when police visited your home they seized a holdall and found test papers and a notepad with your handwriting Jordan.

“You, Cindy were logging into TfL’s computer system out of hours and had access to a locked cabinet where exam papers were stored and you found applicants who may be amenable to pay for your services and you returned examination papers when completed.

“We have heard from TfL of the potential far-reaching effects of this case, of the breach of trust to the Topographical Assessment Department and the effect on tests, introduced in the interests of safety. 

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.

Jordan Ughanze

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

Another 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,” said the prosecutor.

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, took the £32,000 a year job 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 has just had the family council house transferred to his name.

“You have previous convictions and one could say you have both had your chances and that I should send you to prison today, but what is your risk to the general public?” the judge told the pair.

“With some reluctance I have decided the sentence can be suspended and if I see you again I will activate the sentence.”

Cindy received 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years and Jordan 14 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Both were ordered to complete 120 hours community service work and obey an electronically tagged night time home curfew for three months between 10pm and 7am.

Cindy must also comply with a thirty-day rehabilitation requirement and pay £250 costs.

Jordan must comply with a twenty-day rehabilitation requirement, plus nineteen ‘thinking skills’ sessions and pay £1400 costs.