The Criminal Court in Mechelen (Antwerp Province) has sentenced 2 brothers to prison sentences of 10 years each for organising and profiting from phishing and online fraud. Their victims were sent text messages in which they were urged to confirm their bank details. The fraudsters stole at least 171,000 euro with the help of others, including their parents and their younger brother.
The 2 brothers have previous convictions for drugs offences and phishing. They formed a gang that included 5 other people. Misleading text messages were sent in which victims were encouraged to click on a hyperlink. The message referred to technical issues with the itsme secure login app or to an urgent message from the victim’s bank.
The internet fraudsters were able to gain access to scores of bank accounts. They altered their victims’ withdrawl and transfer limits and transferred cash to their own accounts. The gang members used the stolen cash to buy luxury goods and electrical appliances.
Ruthless and specialised in cybercrime
Prosecutor Catherine Van de Heyning told the court that the brothers were ruthless and this case prove that they devoid of any conscience.
"This is one of the worst cases of online fraud that has ever been dealt with in this court”.
"The brothers were ruthless, and the case proves just how unscrupulous they were. They stole pensions from elderly people that were in the final years of their live. The stolen money was withdrawn or used to buy luxury goods that were then resold”
Younger brother coerced
The brothers enlisted their parents and two friends to help them with their activities. Their younger brother was even coerced into committing cybercrime offences by his older siblings.
Prosecutor Van de Heyning told the court that “The two accused pose a particularly serious threat to the public. They have no scruples, have threatened minors, including their own brother, and have both been convicted of phishing fraud beforehand.
Arrest warrant after electronic tag was cut off
One of the brothers was sent back to Belgium from Spain where he was living at the time of his arrest. However, he was electronically tagged rather than incarcerated and simply carried on offending.
He cut off his electronic tag and is now in Morocco with the other brother convicted on Wednesday. The prosecutor told the court that an arrest warrant has been issued for both of them.
10 years’ imprisonment and an 80.000-euro fine
Taking into account the large number of victims and the considerable financial damage they suffered, the judge sentenced the brothers to 10 years in prison and a fine of 80,000 euro.
Money obtained through the phishing and the luxury goods and electronic devices they purchased with it have been confiscated. The brothers’ mother, father and younger brother were also given custodial sentences.