22/07/2008

ATM Fraudster Jailed After Baby Cash Photo Found

An East Yorkshire fraudster has been jailed after a picture he took of his baby surrounded by bank notes as a boast was uncovered by police.

Adu Bunu, of Wakefield, was convicted at Hull Court of making copies of more than 2,000 cashpoint cards and clearing funds from his victim's accounts.

It is understood the scam targeted ATMs outside supermarkets including one in Beverley and Willerby in East Yorkshire.

Police say that Bunu, or Romanian origin, fitted false fronts to the cash machines which were able to record both the magnetic strip identifying cards and pin numbers typed in by their owners.

Police launched a surveillance operation after discovering a fraud "hotsot" in Beverley.

It is believed the Bunu, who worked as a painter and decorator, netted £43,000 but "had the potential to steal more than £1 million".

The con artist claimed that the picture of his baby son surrounded by bank notes was a Romanian tradition celebrating the birth of his child.

However, the jury dismissed his claims.

It transpired that Bunu had taken the picture on his mobile phone and sent it to relatives back in Romania "to boast".

Police found the picture after raiding his flat in Wakefield on January 29, this year.

Detective Sergeant Neil Clarkson from the Humberside Police Economic Crime Section said it was a "well-organised" card cloning operation where "more than 2,000 card details were recovered".

Det Sgt Clarkson added that "although not all card details had been used", if they had of been, "he had the potential to recover more than £1m".

Bunu's 33-year-old accomplice is being hunted by the police.

(DS)

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