'Innocent lady' robbed of €20k after phishing scam call pretending to be Bank of Ireland
Sprice was sentenced at Waterford Circuit Court.
A Waterford man has received a prison sentence of two years and three months for committing money-laundering.
John Sprice (38), of 93 Priory Lawn, Ballybeg, scammed a Kerry woman out of nearly €20,000. He acted alongside his co-accused Chris Tozetti, who was sentenced last November for his part.
On May 11, 2023, a woman was targeted by a phishing scam call pretending to be Bank of Ireland. The caller claimed that her account was compromised and that she had to transfer her money to another account. Believing the call to be legitimate, the woman transferred €19,900 to Sprice's account. Two days later, her bank contacted her to ask if she had transferred the large sum to Sprice.
She was at her son's First Holy Communion when she discovered the scam.
The money was refunded to her account but she experienced emotional and financial difficulties as a result. Defence counsel Gareth Hayden BL told the court that Sprice had long-standing difficulties with drugs and gambling.
Garda Kevin Cleere gave evidence to Judge Eugene O'Kelly at Waterford Circuit Court. The court heard that Sprice has eight previous convictions, mainly theft-related offences.
Judge O'Kelly said: "John Sprice sold his bank account details to enable a criminal enterprise by scamming an innocent lady out of nearly €20,000. The prevalence of this type of criminal activity is frightening."
The final year of the sentence was suspended.
