Chester Duncalf-Massey, 53 a self proclaimed ‘wealthy businessman’ who has links to Cardiff, and pensioner friend Clifford Hazel, 71, have been accused of using their own business accounts to receive and distribute the proceeds of a series of international frauds back in 2016.
These frauds, which were carried out by unknown parties, were a set of email scams where a large volume of emails were sent to employees at a large company in the hope that someone in management would click the attached link in the email giving a hacker full access to their email account.
The hacker will then send emails pretending to be the manager to other employees in the company claiming to allow the transfer of an amount of money from company bank accounts.
Andrew Evans prosecuting, told Southwark crown court: ‘It is not suggested that either of them were responsible for hacking email accounts or sending bogus emails intending to divert monies from business accounts’.
‘However, they did both play an important and essential role in allowing their bank accounts to be used for the proceeds of crime.’
A companies Vice President, Ms Susan Turner, that specialises in international real estate, based in Chicago, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL) fell victim to the scam.
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‘In September 2016 fraudsters were able to access Susan Turner’s account and send false emails requesting transfers from company bank accounts to various UK bank accounts for payments of fictitious projects.’ Mr Evans continued
‘Documents were also forged for these requests. She was unaware of her email account being hijacked.’
The accounts manager authorised the payments believing from the documents that the money was being transferred to another JLL account, they were actually account details for a business called Seaton Sands – which is accredited to Hazel.
‘As a result of the successful phishing attempt in total 1.5 million dollars were successfully transferred,’ the prosecutor said.
‘£594,000 was accredited to the Seaton Sands account. Money was then transferred by Hazel to three different bank accounts.’
Which included a Barclays Wealth (offshore) account in the Isle of Man and a Deutsche Bank account in Spain.
‘Business bank accounts such as those controlled by the defendants are particularly suitable for receiving the proceeds.
‘Business accounts are often irregular so a large sum of money from a random source is less likely to attract a bank’s attention.’ Mr Evans said.
Armstrong Pumps Inc, a pumps and valves manufacturer, the accounts manager received an email from the CEO requesting the transfer of funds ‘to be made that day’.
A total of £115,118 would have been transferred as a result of the fake emails but the manager noticed the account names were incorrect and quickly canceled the payment which again was to Seaton Sands account
A third attempted fraud related to a £5,000 transfer from a wealthy NatWest customer’s account.
In relation to Duncalf-Massey’s involvement Mr Evans described how he had prior knowledge of the transfers and who was authorising them.
‘Mr Duncalf-Massey knew the name of the American company targeted and knew roughly the number to be transferred to Hazel’s account.
‘Both defendants have known each other for around 20 years through their mutual business interests.’
Mr Evans concluded: ‘The actions of both defendants upon receiving those monies and transferring to other accounts are entirely consistent with, and can only be explained by, their laundering of money.
‘Both defendants benefitted or were expected to benefit from the laundering of these monies to their accounts.’
Clifford Hazel of Hessenford, Cornwall, and Chester Duncalf-Massey of Lymm, Cheshire, stand accused of one count of conspiracy to conceal criminal property and three counts of entering or becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement.
On the 26th August – Mr Hazel was found Guilty on Counts 2,3 & 4 on the indictment – Mr Duncalf-Massey is yet to go to trial.
18th November 2022 pre trial review for Mr Duncalf-Massey / 10th July 2023 for trial for Mr Duncalf-Massey.
No appeal has been lodged yet
Profiles:
Chester Duncalf-Massey According to companies house is the current director of several companies such as Proylem Ltd a Business social media company and SPYMONDE ltd which a ‘spy’ company, possibly giving him access to personal business’s details and claims to have worked on behalf of EasyJet, TUI, Ineos, Koenigsegg, Lukoil & The Sun, he appears to have had questionable companies in Europe such as France and Spain. Many of his websites have since been taken offline.
Clifford Hazel has had 8 dissolved companies since 1995
More here
The case continues…