Father and son fraudsters jailed for money laundering after ironing scam

A pair of father and son fraudsters have been jailed for money laundering after making £136,000 in an elaborate fraud scheme involving old irons.

Paul Mathews, 62, and Dean Mathews, 40, both of Queens Road, Wisbech, were caught buying heavily discounted reconditioned Tefal steam irons, worth £400, then forging receipts and taking them to Argos for a refund, claiming they had been originally purchased there.

They both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering and were sentenced to three years and two years, respectively, at Norwich Crown Court on August 13.

Officers from the City of London Police ’s fraud operations team found 528 transactions when they fraudently claimed refunds from the high street chain.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Parish said: “This was an elaborate plot with a very simple objective - make as much money as possible.

“Both men will now serve time in prison for their actions, which should serve as a lesson to those being tempted by illegal get-rich-quick schemes. You will eventually be found out, and we will pursue you until justice is served.

“Retail fraud has a huge impact on a very human level. The impact of this fraud has a human element when you consider that businesses rely on profitability to pay their employees’ salaries, health benefits, and health insurance.”

Both men were arrested in February 2024 for fraud and money laundering offences and answered “no comment” throughout their police interviews.

They were originally bailed under the condition they stayed away from Argos stores but committed the same offence again with 24 hours of being released and continued the scam until May this year.

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