Four members of an international fraud syndicate have been sentenced to US federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with their scheme to manufacture and use fraudulent credit cards using the personally identifiable information of US-based individuals. This information was bought over the internet from individuals in the Ukraine, Tajikistan, and Russia, among other countries. The stolen information was then used to unlawfully manufacture fraudulent credit cards to purchase gift cards and high end merchandise, such as iPhones, laptop computers, and designer clothing, from retailers in the United States, which were then transported to Mexico for future sale and profit by the scheme participants.   Small businesses with ground breaking ideas will be able to access new innovation loans through Innovate UK - the first new funding mechanism to be offered, other than matched grants, the agency has announced. These government-backed "innovation loans" will allow businesses to access between £100,000 and £1 million on flexible, affordable terms as funding for later-stage research and development projects with a clear route to commercial success. The first wave will make up to £50 million available over two years, priced at the HM Treasury discount rate, currently 3.7 per cent fixed. The loan will allow for up to three years to finalise the development of the product or service, a further two years to commercialise, and with up to five years to repay.