Two suspected fraudsters from Gravesend have appeared in court following a number of reported attempts to trick organisations into parting with vast sums of money.

One firm based in Australia paid the equivalent of £98,315 to what they thought was one of their suppliers after receiving a fraudulent email, while another based in Sweden transferred £144,469 after receiving several false invoices.

A number of other organisations including youth football and cricket clubs were also allegedly targeted between June 2016 and January 2017.

Chinyere Ezabel Okpala, 44, and Uchendu Ositadimma Okpala, 45, both of Bucks Cross Road have been charged with six counts of fraud by false representation and appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court, where they pleaded not guilty.

They will next appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, November 10.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

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