A digital banking chief at Lloyds TSB was today charged with a £2.5 million fraud over allegations that she stole from her employers using false invoices.
Jessica Harper, 50, from Croydon, is accused of carrying out the scam while working as head of fraud and security for digital banking. She was arrested after detectives from the Met’s economic and specialist crime unit received a tip-off.
Prosecutors who announced the charge today claimed that Ms Harper had abused her position and acted dishonestly to profit at the bank’s expense. She will appear in court next week.
Andrew Penhale, of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Central Fraud Group, said the charge related to actions between September 2008 and December last year, involving submitting false invoices to claim payments.
Harper was arrested at her south London home by Met detectives just before Christmas. On her Linkedin site address she describes herself as head of online technology at Lloyds TSB bank.
She lists her specialist interests as being responsible for new online technology development, delivery, text and email, security, fraud and internet operations.
Harper appears to have worked at Lloyds since 2000. One former colleague posted a recommendation in 2007 saying: “Jessica is a very knowledgeable and experienced online technology professional. Jessica is surely one of the most connected persons in the bank ... Jessica demonstrates key negotiation and leadership skills with her colleagues and all the key solution providers she is dealing with.”
Mr Penhale said that Ms Harper would appear before Westminster magistrates next Thursday. He added: “Jessica Harper now stands charged with a criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that nothing should be reported which could prejudice this trial.”
No customers’ money or accounts are believed to have been affected by the alleged fraud.
