Men jailed at Belfast Crown Court for 'buying' vehicles using fake banking app

Two men have been jailed for 20 months following an investigation into the fraudulent purchase of vehicles using a fake banking app.

Thomas Roberts, 30, and Shane McDonagh, 25, from the Staines area of Wraysbury, England were convicted in Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday, July 3, of seven counts of fraud and possession of criminal assets.

Roberts was also separately convicted of driving with no insurance and McDonagh of possession of a Class C controlled drug.

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They were found to have purchased vehicles from February 2022 to October 2022 in the Belfast, Derry, Armagh and Newry areas through classified adverts online, but after meeting the sellers, taking the vehicles for a test drive and agreeing a price, they showed the sellers a fake banking app which showed money being transferred with the money never arriving.

During the investigation three of the seven vehicles were recovered by officers, however only one was in a useable condition. Roberts and McDonagh were arrested in on May 15, 2023 after disembarking a ferry from Birkenhead to Belfast.

They were given a 40 month sentence with 20 months to be spent in prison and the remainder on licence.

Commenting, Detective Sergeant Cargin said: “An extensive and detailed investigation commenced after the suspects fraudulently purchased seven vehicles through classified advertising on a website.

“The seller was then contacted by the defendants and arrangements were made to meet in Northern Ireland.

“They then took the vehicle for a test drive and a price was agreed. The defendant showed a fake banking app which appeared to display the agreed amount being transferred. However, the money never arrived for the sale and contact was lost.

“Of the seven vehicles stolen in this manner three were later recovered, only one of which was in a usable condition.

“The two defendants were subsequently stopped disembarking from the Birkenhead to Belfast Ferry on 15th May 2023 and were arrested and later charged with related offences.

“These were very serious fraudulent offences and we, along with partner organisations, remain committed to disrupting the activities of those involved with illegal activity, including financial fraud.

“I would encourage anyone with information that could assist in our ongoing efforts to contact us on the non-emergency number 101, or submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

"You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/."

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