A BANK worker took part in a “sophisticated fraud” which saw scammers steal millions of pounds from rich customers using a string of impersonators, a court heard.

Molly Jones, 24, of Bohemia Chase, Leigh, scoured computer systems at Lloyds Bank for rarely-accessed accounts holding large sums of money before passing the details to the criminal gang.

The gang then ordered new bank cards so imposters could pose as the customers and set up transfers of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The money was laundered through a series of bogus companies before being moved offshore to prevent it being recovered, it is claimed.

One victim lost more than £750,000 after an unknown man used a fake driving licence in his name to set up two transfers over three days.

The Old Bailey heard Jones was involved in the attempted fraud on the account of Thomas Murphy at time when it had a £3million balance.

She set up a payment of £486,000 - supposedly for a house purchase - after an imposter came into her branch of Lloyds TSB.

Investigations of her mobile phone revealed messages relating to the Murphy account and a description of the man impersonating the customer.

She has admitted conspiracy to defraud but other defendants are standing trial at the Old Bailey.

Benjamin Omoregie, of no fixed address, has also admitted involvement.

Courtney Ayinbode, 29, of Magdalen Court, Enmore Road, South Norwood, denies conspiracy to defraud between 9 November 2012 and 8 August 2013.

Kushveer Raulia, 25, of Gledwood Gardens, Hayes, West London, denies two counts of conspiracy to defraud and one count of converting criminal property.

Parvez Hussain, of Cedar Road, Romford,, denies converting criminal property.

Another bank worker accused of involvement- Tajinder Galsinh- is not involved in proceedings.

Prosecutor Paul Cavin told the Old Bailey: “They were all involved in an agreement to defraud Lloyds TSB of millions of pounds.

“Accounts belonging to people with large balances - in some cases several millions of pounds - were targeted.

“To identify those rich accounts, an insider, an employee of the bank was recruited to help the gang.

“The insider would then assist in breaching the security protocols in order to steal the money.

“The money would be transferred to accomplices who would swiftly transfer the money through a number of bogus businesses before eventually the money would disappear offshore.

“Once it is offshore it can come back onshore and nobody can trace it.”

The first victim lost £750,975 in the space of three days after his account was accessed by both Ayinbode and Omoregie at the Balham and Streatham branches of Lloyds TSB in July 2013.

A few days later the customer’s address was changed and a new card was issued to the new address, it is claimed.

Then on August 5 a man claiming to be the customer went into the Kings Cross branch to ask to set up a transfer.

The Echo told last year how Jones was involved in another major scam. She admitted being part of a money-laundering ring involving a luxury car firm based at London’s Canary Wharf. She was given a two-year suspended sentence. The trial continues.