Willesden woman jailed for role in boob job scam
Amex worker used stolen credit card details to fund breast enlargements
An American Express worker who passed customers’ card details to two sisters so they could all splash out on boob jobs has been jailed.
Southwark Crown Court heard Bianca Joseph, 26, of Somerton Road, Willesden, abused her position as a finance coordinator at the credit card giant to get her hands on victims’ account details.
The Amex employee shared the confidential information with sisters Rishona Downes, 25, of Reiffel Road, Willesden, and 27-year-old Ramon, of Clement Close, Kilburn, which they used to pay for boob jobs costing �4,000 in 2008.
Joseph herself also underwent the surgery in the same year, making a fraudulent payment of �3,391 to cover the expensive operation.
Between the three women, they splashed out a total of �11,981 on breast augmentation using the stolen details.
It was not until 2009 that suspicion fell on the trio when the real owners of the accounts noticed that they had been funding their breast enlargements.
Most Read
- 1 Call for investment in 'joke' Harlesden park
- 2 Police officer sacked after she 'failed' woman murdered by husband
- 3 'Extremely dangerous' men convicted after girl kidnapped and raped
- 4 Jailed: North London members of Essex drugs supply network
- 5 'Strictest' headteacher to be documentary subject
- 6 Labour accused of 'power grab' move over committee appointments
- 7 Second man charged with fatal stabbing of Emmanuel Odunlami
- 8 Northwick Park NHS Trust still 'requires improvement'
- 9 TfL consultation opens on plans to extend ULEZ into Greater London
- 10 Iceland offers over 60s discount on shopping bill every week
Joseph, who also planned to use stolen card details to buy a car at a London dealership, was jailed for 12 months yesterday (Monday).
She admitted two counts of fraud and one of conspiracy to defraud.
Judge Christopher Hardy told her that her breach of her employers’ trust was so serious that he had to impose an immediate prison sentence.
The Downes sisters were both given suspended jail terms after they were convicted of fraud following a trial in February.
Det Con Alex Nimako from City of London Police said: “An abuse of a position of trust sees short-term pleasure being exchanged for longer-term pain.
“Anyone thinking of following Joseph’s example should expect to suffer a similar fate - caught by her employer, prosecuted by the police and spending time behind bars.”