By JOSE RAMOS, NEWS REPORTER Published: 10:37 BST, 3 October 2025 | Updated: 12:40 BST, 3 October 2025
A fraudster who conned elderly victims out of more than £50,000 by posing as a bank's fraud team has been jailed and will now be deported.Jeevan Bathula, 28, played a vital role in the nationwide operation in which victims were duped into believing their savings were at risk.Scammers based in call centres overseas phoned victims claiming to be bank staff and telling them their savings were at risk.They would be persuaded into withdrawing large sums from either a bank or a currency kiosk, before sending it to Bathula's home in Durham, leaving them feeling 'stupid' and 'stressed'.There, the 28-year-old counted and checked the cash, laundered it through transfers and dispersals, and even filmed himself celebrating with bundles of notes.Police launched an investigation after a tip-off from City of London Police led to a parcel being intercepted at a Royal Mail depot.Bathula was arrested at his home on March 12 after a police raid.There, they found £16,790 in cash, more than £13,000 in his account, letters from vulnerable victims and packaging from earlier scams. Jeevan Bathula played a vital role in the nationwide operation in which victims were duped into believing their savings were at risk He filmed videos of him on his phone counting the money on camera and giving a thumbs upOfficers also found numerous videos of him on his phone, counting the money on camera and giving a thumbs up.One of his elderly victims has spoken out, saying: 'I was so stressed. I felt so stupid as to what I'd done. I didn't think I was such a person to be that gullible, it has taught me a lesson and deeply affected me.'Jeevan Bathula was charged with concealing and converting criminal property and was remanded to prison.He pleaded guilty and appeared at Durham Crown Court on September 26, where he was sentenced to 18 months in jail and given a deportation order, meaning he can never return to the UK.Detective Sergeant James Woodcock, from The North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), in charge of the case, said: 'This has been the result of dedicated work by everyone involved and it wouldn't have been possible without some fantastic partnership working.'This case involved having to obtain evidence from victims across the UK in a very short space of time and I want to thank the Economic Crime Teams who helped us achieve that.'Bathula at every turn has tried to minimise his role and involvement in the fraud however, the evidence from his phones has helped us build a strong case.'Without cash couriers, this fraud type would struggle to operate, so for those that believe their role is any less criminal by just collecting victim's money and parcels, today's result is a clear sign that you will be located, charged, and be put before a court.'Courier Fraud and Postal Courier Fraud is a national issue, and offenders typically target elderly or vulnerable people and purport to be from a trusted institution such as a bank or the police. They prey on people's trust and exploit it for illicit gains.'We urge the public to speak to elderly relatives and explain the dangers of fraud.'Remember, no bank or police officer will contact you to withdraw money from your account.'If you think a phone call could be a scam, hang up, wait a few minutes, and call your bank's Fraud Team by dialling 159. To report fraud, contact police or visit the Action Fraud website here.
