DETECTIVES have revealed a Headington money launderer’s links to a disgruntled bookkeeper who scammed her cruise company employer out of $3.7m.

And they warned of the increasing reliance by organised crime gangs on ‘money mules’, charged with helping the crooks move money across the world.

Hayden Mackenzie, 36, was given a two year community order at Oxford Crown Court earlier this week after she admitted money laundering.

She was paid £15,250 by Silversea Cruises UK Ltd in January 2018 and spent or sent on more than £10,000 before the fraudulent money transfer was discovered by the luxury cruise company.

Officers from Thames Valley Police’s economic crime unit have now explained how the Oxford single parent was linked to a multi-million dollar fraud carried out in Australia.

Sydney mum Mary Ann Abellanoza, an accountant at Silversea, siphoned off $3.7m over five years. In 2019, she was jailed for eight years.

READ MORE: Headington mum was 'money mule' for Australian fraud

Police described Mackenzie as part of an ‘international ring of money launderers’ responsible for moving the proceeds of the fraud.

Det Insp Duncan Wynn said: “Mackenzie claimed she was approached by someone she barely knew and asked if she would allow her bank account to be used in order to receive and transfer some money.

“In return for this service she was offered a cut of the money moving through her account. This was a very clear case of money laundering and the proceeds she received were as a result of a significant international fraud.

“This type of offending is increasingly common and the individuals used to launder the money in this manner are usually referred to as ‘money mules’. This is a very serious offence and has stark consequences for those who become involved, often leading to those people getting a criminal record.”

He warned of the increasing reliance by gangs on the so-called ‘money mules’.

“Serious and organised criminal groups often depend on ‘money mules’ to receive and move the proceeds of their crimes, meaning they can distance themselves from the predicate criminality,” the detective said.

“All different types of people are being recruited to become ‘money mules’ but younger people do tend to be disproportionately targeted.

“I would implore anyone who is approached and asked to allow their account to be used, to stop and think about the consequences. The temptation to receive money quickly for little work may be strong but there are genuine victims of crime that are being exploited for this money and you may end up with a criminal conviction.

“If you are approached and are unsure what to do, talk to a trusted friend or family member for support and report any suspected criminality to the police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers.”

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