Lloyds bank ex-security chief Jessica Harper charged over £2.4m fraud

Friday, May 25, 2012
1:16 PM

A former security chief at Lloyds Banking Group is to be prosecuted over a £2.4 million fraud.

Jessica Harper is accused of carrying out the scam while working as head of fraud and security for digital banking, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

It is alleged she submitted false invoices to claim payments totalling £2,463,750.

Harper will appear before magistrates next week accused of one count of fraud by abuse of position between 2008 and 2011.

Andrew Penhale, of the CPS Central Fraud Group, said: “The charge relates to an allegation that between 1 September 2008 and 21 December 2011, Jessica Harper dishonestly and with the intention of making a gain for herself, abused her position as an employee of Lloyds Banking Group, in which she was expected to safeguard the financial interests of Lloyds Banking Group, by submitting false invoices to claim payments totalling £2,463,750.88, to which she was not entitled.”

She will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Lloyds Banking Group refused to comment on today’s charging decision against Harper.

A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed she was arrested on December 21 by officers from the force’s fraud squad.