Wolverhampton bank fraudster is jailed

A Wolverhampton fraudster has been jailed after stealing over £45,000 from numerous bank branches throughout the UK.

Our investigation showed that Joseph Mason, pretended to be different business customers, fraudulently completing transactions in their name between February 5 and October 30, and withdrawing between £950 and £4,200 on each occasion.

The 47-year-old travelled to banks in more than 14 towns and cities around the country including Stoke, Taunton, Liverpool, Newcastle and Birmingham during his nine-month spree withdrawing over £46,650 in total.

Investigators from our Regional Economic Crime Team (RECU) worked with the security teams at the bank, utilising CCTV footage, mobile phone evidence and witness statements to confirm it was Mason who had carried out each of the fraudulent transactions.

Officers went on to arrest Mason in November 2025, and after admitting charges under the Fraud Act, he was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday (31 March) to three years and six months in prison.

A Serious Crime Prevention order (SCPO) was also granted which will impose stringent restrictions on his activities after he is released from prison and support in preventing further offending.

Detective Inspector Jon Green from the Regional Economic Crime Unit, said: "This result proves that fraud does not pay, and shows the determination of officers to tackle this threat, ensure offenders are brought to justice and use all the tools available to us to prevent reoffending.

“Crimes like this have a real impact on the individuals whose accounts are at targeted, and the institutions where we want our hard-earn money to be safe and secure.

“We will continue to work with public and private sector partners and the community to raise awareness around different types of fraud, prevent offending and protect the public, supporting the national STOP! THINK FRAUD campaign.”

If you feel you have been a victim of fraud we would encourage you to report this to Report Fraud who are the nationally recognised reporting mechanism for fraud and cyber offences. UK's Home for Reporting Cyber Crime & Fraud - Report Fraud.