A group running a subscription service that allowed criminals to bypass online security has been found guilty of fraud. The trio—Vijayasidhurshan Vijayanathan, 21, from Aylesbury; Callum Picari, 22, from Hornchurch; and 19-year-old Aza Siddeeque from Milton Keynes—promised customers quick wealth.
Criminals paid at least £30 weekly for technology enabling them to access bank accounts, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA). They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply articles for fraud, while Picari also admitted to concealing criminal property.
The NCA revealed that over 12,500 individuals were targeted via the website OTP.Agency between September 2019 and its closure in March 2021. Users could bypass multi-factor authentication for banks like HSBC and Lloyds, with elite access costing £380.
Although the exact earnings are unknown, estimates suggest between £30,000 and £7.9 million. Arrested in March 2021, the men initially denied wrongdoing but later admitted guilt, with Siddeeque being the last to do so. Messages revealed attempts to delete incriminating conversations.
The NCA warned that these convictions serve as a cautionary tale for others offering similar services, emphasizing their capability to dismantle threats to public safety.