TWO Lithuanians living in Warrington have been jailed for 12 months for money laundering following an investigation into websites selling fake cameras.
They formed part of a quartet of offenders found guilty of money laundering after a trial at Chester Crown Court.
They were Spartakas Grachauskas, 27, and Lilija Gincman, 53, both from Warrington and Rita Jablonskaite, 37, and Alexsas Bagdonavicius, 52, both from Crewe.
The four were arrested between December 2012 and March last year following an investigation by Cheshire Police’s Financial Investigation Unit into fake camera websites.
The fake websites were cloned from legitimate camera websites under the names of “Olimpic Cameras”, “Technologies Shop” and “Lions Tech”.
They offered cameras and camera equipment at very good prices along with various deals enticing members of the public to purchase cameras and equipment online.
However, when members of the public tried to make a purchase using their credit and debit cards, the website flagged up an e-mail asking them to send cash directly to individual bank accounts.
This led to money being sent directly and no goods delivered – with victims losing thousands of pounds.
Victims were from across the UK and further afield including the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Australia.
They reported the incidents to Action Fraud – the UK’s national fraud and internet crime reporting centre.
Cheshire Police then launched its investigation, which spanned a period of 14 months. This resulted in the four defendants, all originally from Lithuania, being arrested.
DC Ian Wetherall, of Cheshire Police’s Financial Investigation Unit, said: “This is a satisfying result as cyber crime is an escalating crime trend and this case will hopefully send a message to people who commit this type of crime that they will not get away with it and will be punished for their actions.
“Hopefully, and most importantly, it highlights that people need to be very careful when buying online that the purchase is safe and to take reasonable steps in checking that companies are legitimate before sending any money directly.”
TWO Lithuanians living in Warrington have been jailed for 12 months for
money laundering following an investigation into websites selling fake
cameras.
Four jailed over fake camera websites
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
