Money Launderer Sentenced in £2M Tech Support Scam Targeting UK Consumers

A Wiltshire man has been imprisoned for his role in laundering more than £580,000 as part of a sophisticated computer support fraud that stole over £2 million from hundreds of UK victims, many of them elderly and vulnerable. Gyaltse Yolmo, 42, of Purton, Swindon, was sentenced to 38 months at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to money laundering contrary to the Proceedings of Crime Act 2002, bringing to justice the final member of a UK-based laundering network that enabled an India-based scam operation.

Background and Context

The fraud operated between November 2015 and January 2019, with perpetrators impersonating major technology companies including HP, Microsoft and Norton. Using misleading advertisements on Google and Bing, the fraudsters convinced victims their computers were compromised and required immediate repair services. Victims were charged hugely inflated prices for unnecessary or meaningless "repairs," with some paying more than it would have cost to purchase a new computer entirely. One victim alone paid over £4,400 to scammers he believed represented HP.

The operation primarily targeted older individuals and those lacking confidence with technology, exploiting their trust in established brands. After gaining remote access to victims' computers, fraudsters repeatedly contacted many victims over months, pressuring them into making additional payments for fictitious services. Beyond financial loss, victims described profound psychological impacts, including anxiety, embarrassment, and fear of using computers again.

Key Figures and Entities

The criminal enterprise was orchestrated by two brothers operating from India, who managed a network of companies designed to receive victim payments. Yolmo served as the sole director of UK Infotech Technology Ltd, one of several companies established to process fraudulent payments between November 2015 and January 2019. Court records show that while the company received hundreds of thousands of pounds from victims, most funds were swiftly transferred to the fraudsters in India.

Six other defendants were previously sentenced to a combined total of over 12 years' imprisonment for their roles in laundering the same fraudulent proceeds. The investigation was led by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team, hosted by City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council, with support from West Midlands, Staffordshire, and Wiltshire police services.

Legal and Financial Mechanisms

The laundering network operated through a series of UK-registered companies that appeared legitimate on the surface but existed primarily to obscure the origins of criminal proceeds. Yolmo's company UK Infotech Technology Ltd received victim payments before transferring the funds to overseas accounts, making detection and recovery difficult. The court disqualified Yolmo from serving as a company director for six years as part of his sentence.

Proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 allow authorities to pursue those who handle criminal proceeds even if they didn't directly participate in the underlying fraud. This legal framework proved crucial in holding Yolmo accountable for his role in the money laundering operation that sustained the broader scam.

International Implications and Policy Response

This case highlights the challenges of policing cross-border digital fraud, where perpetrators can operate from one country while using money mules and shell companies in another to process stolen funds. The coordinated effort between UK law enforcement agencies demonstrates the importance of interjurisdictional cooperation in tackling such crimes.

Lord Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, emphasized that those enabling fraud networks through financial services face serious consequences, stating that today's sentencing "underlines that those who profit by enabling fraud, and who help keep these crimes running, will be held fully accountable." The National Trading Standards eCrime Team continues to investigate similar operations targeting UK consumers, with victims encouraged to report such fraud to the Citizens Advice consumer service helpline at 0808 223 1133.

Sources

This report draws on court proceedings at Leeds Crown Court, corporate filings from UK Companies House, and official statements from the National Trading Standards eCrime Team. Additional context was provided by victim testimonies and public statements from officials at City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council.