by By CHERIE TAYLOR, cherie.taylor@dailypost.co.nz

Eleven Rotorua people are accused of hacking into online bank accounts and stealing thousands of dollars in an elaborate internet scam.  One of the accused has admitted her role in the widespread fraud ring that targeted the National Bank.  Nine others have been remanded without plea after appearing in Rotorua District Court yesterday, and one is wanted by police after failing to show up.

The Daily Post can today reveal details of the scam which involved people using the bank's secure website to access accounts and transfer money from one account to another, creating credits in their own or a nominated bank account.  Editor's Note:  Wait until the professionals get crackin'!

The woman who pleaded guilty yesterday was Rotorua's Lauren Sainty, an unemployed 25-year-old.  she stole nearly $6000 and the nine others are accused of stealing about $56,000 and allegedly attempting to steal a further $25,000.

Sainty pleaded guilty to one charge of accessing the National Bank website on December 18 last year, gaining $2998 and three counts of gaining pecuniary advantage by obtaining cash amounts of $198, $2000 and $800 on the same day.

The police's summary of facts states that from June 2008, a small group of people in Hamilton found a way to access the National Bank internet website and transfer money from one account to another, creating credits in their own or a nominated bank account.  The money was then withdrawn the next day before the money was dishonoured for insufficient funds. This then put both accounts into overdraft.  The scheme became widely known to criminals in the following months before the scam was picked up, the summary states.

In November, the scale of transactions and reversals became large enough to become noticed in the banking world.  By late November, the matter was reported to police.

Judge Chris McGuire noted Sainty was a first-time offender and sentenced her to 150 hours' community work and ordered her to repay $2998 to the bank.  When contacted by The Daily Post, ANZ National Bank spokeswoman Jessamy Malcolm-Cowper said she was unable to make specific comments as the matter was still before the courts.  Meanwhile, nine other people appeared before the registrar yesterday and did not enter pleas to the charges they each faced.  All were remanded on bail to appear back in court on April 27. An arrest warrant has been issued for Rory Carlaw, 20, after he failed to show up yesterday.

THE ACCUSED

• Chantelle Rangitaitaia Green, bartender, 21, two counts of accessing a National Bank internet website in an attempt to steal $11,000.
• Tracy Gail Dawn Anson, 19, unemployed, one charge of accessing the National Bank internet banking system dishonestly gaining $6000.
• Elaine Rewa Jeffery, 44, unemployed, one charge of accessing the National Bank internet website in an attempt to gain $3000.
• Jordan Moke, 18, one charge each of accessing the National Bank internet website to dishonesty obtain $1000, dishonestly using an ANZ debit card to obtain cash and cultivation of cannabis.
• Tyrone Benjamin Moke, 21, unemployed, two charges of accessing the National Bank internet website to gain $4048 and $1000 plus three counts of using his own bank card withdrawing $800, $2000 and $202.
• Deidre Anne Heta, 31, solo parent, 11 charges of illegally using her bank card to withdraw a total of $5191.
• Brian Charles Brogden, 30, unemployed, one charge of accessing the National Bank internet website in an attempt to gain $2000.
• Wallace Waiariki, 42, table hand, one count of accessing the National bank internet website in an attempt to gain $4000.
• Owen Dlyakiya, 20, from South Africa, one charge of accessing the National bank internet website dishonestly gaining $4672 and four charges of using his bank card to dishonestly gain a total of $4673.
• Moanata Janey Karaitiana, 23, unemployed, five charges of accessing the National Bank internet website to gain $20,700 and 35 charges of using debit cards to gain $11,739.
• Rory Carlaw, 19, plasterer, one charge of accessing the National Bank internet website in an attempt to gain $5000 and one charge of possession of cannabis - warrant issued to arrest.