Professional footballer jailed for teaming up with cyber-fraudsters

A professional footballer has been jailed for three years for teaming up with a gang of cyber-fraudsters to hack into bank accounts across the globe.

Gabriel Edwards, 24, had played for Wigan Athletic’s second team until a knee injury stalled his career.

Later he joined a gang of villains who targeted bank users from 'Minnesota to New South Wales'.

Stolen details were used to hack into hundreds of bank accounts online and by phone before money was stolen by electronic transfer.

The gang grabbed £130,000 and tried to get a further £45,000 between August 2010 and February 2012.

They were caught after a man of 72, returned from a visit abroad to learn £47,365 had been stolen from his Halifax account between November 17, 2011 and November 25, 2011.

Police discovered the money had been deposited into different accounts without his knowledge using different IP addresses.

Officers later arrested Edwards at his flat in Salford, Greater Manchester during a series of raids on home across the county and during house searches various documents, mobile phones and laptops were seized.

The computers and mobile telephones that were seized were examined and found that those involved in the conspiracy had acquired personal identification and account details for hundreds of people across the world.

The information had allowed them to transfer money from bank accounts held by customers of major
high street banks and credit card companies, into accounts run by the gang.

At Manchester Crown Court, Edwards pleaded with a judge for leniency claiming he had been offered pre-season training with Macclesfield Town and wanted to 'continue his career in the lower leagues'.

But he was jailed after being found guilty of conspiracy to steal, concealing criminal property and
possessing an article for use in fraud at trial.

Two accomplices were also jailed while a woman was given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to complete community service.

Culled