A man who tried to scam thousands of pounds using stolen data while studying at Lancaster University has been sent to prison.
Sibtain Hussain, 32, of Crow Tree Lane, Bradford, targeted international applicants to UK universities demanding payments for proof of ‘financial capability’, ‘student services’, and ‘accommodation deposits’.
He created multiple phone numbers, email addresses, aliases and bank accounts to facilitate the scheme in a bid to avoid detection.
In 2018 unauthorised access was gained to Lancaster University’s internal computer system and applicant data was stolen.
Hussain, who began studying at the university in 2017, gained access to the stolen data and used it to perpetrate the fraud.
He used the information to persistently target over 200 individuals by phone and email demanding sums up to £3,200.
More than £48,000 was sent by 23 students as a result of Hussain’s efforts, but a large majority of payments were blocked by banks.
The fraud had the potential to generate more than £493,000 in illegal profits.
Lancaster University reported the data breach to the National Crime Agency in July 2019 after receiving reports that applicants had been targeted. The NCA subsequently launched an investigation with the university’s ongoing assistance.
Officers identified and spoke to several of the targeted applicants including those who had made payments. They went on to identify multiple links between Hussain and various accounts associated with the fraud.
Hussain was arrested in July 2019 in Bradford. Two mobile phones and a wallet were seized which contained evidence linking him to the crimes.
He initially denied the charges but later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and transferring criminal property.
He was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to four and a half years for fraud and 12 months for money laundering.
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