All sentenced to terms of imprisonment as an organised criminal group after scamming Spark and bank customers in cold call frauds, Pargat Singh Bhangu, Gurwinder Singh and Harmandeep Singh went to considerable lengths setting up the scam: establishing bank accounts in advance of the frauds to create a veneer of business respectability; bribing homeless men into acting as money mules; and using an almost identical script to entrap nearly thirty elderly and vulnerable victims.
Funds in excess of $800,000 were extracted from victims cajoled into downloading software enabling the group to control their bank accounts, under the pre-text of making their bank accounts ‘safe’ from suspected fraud.
In one instance, a victim was kept on the phone for five hours whilst unwittingly assisting the fraudsters.
Frauds continued after arrest of the main offenders in 2024; the electronic fingerprint left by their modus operandi leading to arrest of a further offender.
The District Court was told virtual private networks were used in an attempt to disguise the fraudsters’ cold call locations.
Having gained control of a victim’s bank account, funds were extracted with fictitious references appended for the likes of rent, or car payment, and in one case a supposed purchase of a sex toy by one victim.
In other cases, attempts were made to purchase gold and silver, to be delivered to addresses accessible to the fraudsters.
Knowledge of customer PIN numbers led to fraudulent online credit card purchases.
Stolen funds were also laundered through bank accounts operated by vulnerable homeless individuals, with funds then extracted at ATMs.
One victim was persuaded to put all her bank cards in an envelope in her letterbox for checking, only to see the cards stolen.
Some of the stolen funds were transferred to associates in India.
Thirty year old Banghu was described as the ring-leader, masterminding the frauds over a five year period. He was sentenced to three years and eight months imprisonment for what was described as calculated and cynical offending.
Banghu has three previous convictions for money-laundering. The court was told he has not paid reparations as ordered following these earlier convictions.
Harmandeep Singh participated in the criminal group for eight months, continuing to offend after his colleagues had been arrested. He was sentenced to two years eight months imprisonment.
Gurwinder Singh was sentenced to two years imprisonment for his four months involvement in the criminal enterprise.
All three pleaded guilty.
R. v. Bhangu, Singh & Singh – District Court (7.05.26)
26.154