An Aviva employee embezzled thousands of pounds from her bosses by processing bogus claims in the names of real clients.
Joy Pumayi made more than £13,000 through the fraudulent scheme at the company’s Perth HQ.
The 28-year-old was sacked for gross misconduct when her eight-month scam was exposed.
An internal probe found she was processing fake claims – including one for a water-damaged furniture – and directing the money into her own bank account.
Pumayi, of Airthrey Avenue, Bridge of Allan, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted embezzling the cash between January 4 and August 4 2017.
She has been told to repay the stolen cash.
Fake furniture
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said: “At the time the accused was employed by Aviva as a personal complaints handler.
“She commenced her employment in November 2015.
“She held that position until her dismissal for gross misconduct on August 25, 2017.”
The court heard her job involved processing claims from Aviva customers.
“The accused had a limit of £2,500 and was able to approve any amount within this limit.
“On January 4, 2017, the accused processed a payment for £660.
“It was presented in such a manner that it appeared to be the value of a chest of drawers, which had been destroyed by flood damage.
“It related to a genuine customer, however this rationale was fabricated.”
Pumayi directed the payment into her own bank account.
Internal probe
Another payment of more than £2,300 was processed by Pumayi in a similar manner on March 10 and another of just under £2,500 on May 17.
Both were said to be payments for remedial work to real companies.
On June 16, she processed another fake claim for £7,480.
Because the amount was outside her limit, a supervisor needed to authorise it.
Ms Hodgson stressed that at the time, Pumayi’s supervisor had no reason to doubt the claim.
“An internal investigation was launched after suspicions were raised by a colleague of the accused,” Ms Hodgson said.
Two transactions were quickly matched with the bank account Pumayi used to collect her wages.
“The accused was interviewed and she admitted processing claims into her personal bank account and another HSBC account,” the fiscal depute told the court.
The matter was later reported to police.
Promise to payback
Solicitor Linda Clark said the issue had been hanging over her client’s head for almost five years.
“It’s fair to say that she is keen to have this resolved as quickly as possible,” she said.
Pumayi had been in talks with Aviva about repaying the funds, but “that chain of communication came to an end,” said Ms Clark.
“So, she was not able to repay the funds.”
The court heard the accused could repay the full amount within the next seven days.
Sheriff Richard McFarlane deferred sentence until February 23 to give Pumayi the chance to repay the amount “voluntarily”.
