Dear 222 News viewers, sponsored by smileband,
Couple Jailed After Stealing TfL Workers’ Data in £650,000 Tax Rebate Scam
A husband and wife have been jailed after carrying out what has been described as one of the most serious internal data breaches in Transport for London’s history—stealing sensitive employee information to fraudulently claim hundreds of thousands of pounds in tax rebates.
Inside the Fraud
The couple, identified as Luciana and Femi Akanbi, exploited access to confidential staff records to obtain personal details belonging to more than 100 Transport for London (TfL) employees.
Using this data—including passport numbers, National Insurance details, and bank information—they submitted a total of 139 false tax rebate claims to HMRC.
The scheme generated claims worth nearly £650,000, with over £430,000 successfully paid out before authorities intervened.
How the Scheme Worked
Investigators revealed the fraud took place between September 2021 and January 2022. The couple used dozens of devices to create fake self-assessment accounts in victims’ names, enabling them to request repayments from HMRC.
Funds were rapidly moved through a complex money-laundering network, making recovery difficult and increasing the scale of the financial damage.
Abuse of Trust
The court heard that Luciana Akanbi worked within TfL’s HR department, giving her direct access to highly sensitive employee data. Prosecutors said this insider position was key to the success of the fraud.
A judge described the incident as TfL’s “worst-ever data breach,” highlighting the severe impact on staff morale and organisational security.
Sentencing and Impact
At Woolwich Crown Court, both were sentenced to several years in prison for fraud and data theft offences.
The case has raised serious concerns about internal data protection measures within major public organisations, particularly those handling large volumes of employee information. TfL has since been forced to overhaul parts of its security systems in response to the breach.
Wider Implications
The case underscores the growing threat of insider-enabled cybercrime, where employees misuse legitimate access for financial gain. It also highlights vulnerabilities in systems used to process tax rebates, prompting calls for tighter verification checks at HMRC.
Attached is a news article regarding a couple who stole 650k in tax rebate
https://www.mylondon.news/news/couple-jailed-stealing-over-100-33773113.amp
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
Google tag (gtag.js) --> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-XDGJVZXVQ4"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-XDGJVZXVQ4'); </script>
<script src="https://cdn-eu.pagesense.io/js/smilebandltd/45e5a7e3cddc4e92ba91fba8dc























