Identity fraudsters who stole more than £500,000 have been jailed for a total of 10 years.
The three men defrauded banks, credit card companies and financial institutions over three years.
They all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud charges and were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court this week.
The men used stolen identities of a number of people from Thanet, Dover, Maidstone, North Kent, Medway, Sussex and Kingston in Surrey to help generate money.
The fraud involved setting up a bogus company to manage the process of identifying victims and obtaining credit details.
They operated simultaneously from bases in Maidstone, Thanet and Tunbridge Wells
John Evans, 58, a painter and decorator, of Cavendish Road, Herne Bay, was jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Neil Evans, 30, unemployed, of Norfolk Road, Cliftonville, was sent to prison for three years and nine months.
Denis Ahern, 66, retired, of St Catherine’s Court, Ramsgate, was imprisoned for one year and seven months.
Scott Appleford, 30, a quantity surveyor of Argyll Court, Ramsgate, was given an 11 month and one-week jail term, suspended for two years.
Detective Inspector Mark Fairhurst, who led the investigation, said: “This was a very complex operation to fraudulently obtain details of people in and outside the county and to use those details to obtain money from banks, credit card companies and financial institutions.
“The men also developed a system to keep credit accounts alive by using other cards to look like they were pay off outstanding accounts.
“Both the courts and Kent Police recognise the serious nature of this organised crime, and the implications it has for the victims and their families. The sentences reflect this robust stance.”
POSTED: 19/01/2007 11:05:13
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