A WOMAN suspected of being involved in identity fraud worth about �640,000 was pictured leaving a Saffron Walden bank. City of London Police is appealing for information about the woman (pictured) who is suspected of using the HSBC branch on the Market Sq

A WOMAN suspected of being involved in identity fraud worth about �640,000 was pictured leaving a Saffron Walden bank.

City of London Police is appealing for information about the woman (pictured) who is suspected of using the HSBC branch on the Market Square at 11.12am on October 22, 2008.

Investigators believe the fraudster used the personal details of an HSBC customer to make illegal transfers out of her account, via branches in Essex, Cambridgeshire and Kent.

Much of the money was sent to accounts in Chicago, Dublin and Amsterdam to pay for sports cars and haulage vehicles.

Police describe her as a white female of large build, medium height, dark hair and aged between 35 and 50. At the time she had a ponytail and possible tattoos on her lower right leg and right breast.

Officers have made extensive enquiries in the UK and abroad and are asking for shoppers in Saffron Walden to help them catch the fraudster.

DC Robert Codrington, from City of London Police, said: "We believe the woman seen in the CCTV footage in the Saffron Walden HSBC branch last October was central to what is a substantial identity fraud.

"If you recognise anything about her or think you may have other information relevant to our investigation please get in touch as soon as possible."

The suspect was first spotted on CCTV in an HSBC branch in Bethnal Green on October 20.

She re-appeared two days later in Saffron Walden, using a passport to change the security login details and the mobile phone number registered to the account.

Later the same day she entered another HSBC branch in Cambridge, making payments of close to �300,000 to accounts in Dublin and Chicago.

On October 24 the suspect made her fourth visit to an HSBC branch, this time in Kent. Here she made further payments to Chicago and Dublin and an additional one to Amsterdam.

Since the crime was detected HSBC has recovered close to �320,000 and are looking to retrieve a further �200,000.

Anyone with information about this woman should call DC Robert Codrington at the City of London Police on 0207 6016995