Bank scam | 

Student (21) looking at crypto schemes got ‘caught up’ in money-laundering scam

David Akinjopo (21) was recruited by a money mule and paid €98 to allow his bank account be used.

Eimear Cotter

Today at 07:20

A student who had been looking at cryptocurrency online trading schemes foolishly replied to a message and got caught up in a money-laundering scam, a court heard.

David Akinjopo (21) was recruited by a money mule and paid €98 to allow his bank account be used.

Judge Shalom Binchy ordered Akinjopo to complete the restorative justice services programme and adjourned sentencing to June.

The defendant, of The Lawn, Clover Meadows, Ferrybank, Waterford, admitted money laundering.

Detective Garda Gerard McCready told Blanchardstown District Court an unnamed victim received a text purporting to be from Bank of Ireland on July 16, 2021. The victim clicked on the link and €650 was removed from their account.

The money was transferred to the defendant’s Revolut account, before being moved to his KBC account. Later, €520 was transferred to a third party’s account.

Defence lawyer Mark McMahon said the defendant, who had no previous convictions, was only 18 at the time of the offence and he co-operated fully with gardaí.

Akinjopo, a business management student in Maynooth, had been looking at crypto trading-type schemes and thought this was a legitimate way to earn some money.

He responded to a Snapchat message from an unknown account and provided them with his account details.

Gda McCready accepted Akinjopo’s behaviour was reckless, but said he was not involved in the smishing scam on the victim.

Akinjopo had also written a letter of apology, the court heard.