Twelve people are to face court accused of using stolen credit cards to buy their own songs on iTunes, police said.

A gang is alleged to have created about 20 songs and uploaded them to be sold on the iTunes and Amazon online sites.

They are alleged to have used stolen or cloned credit cards to buy songs worth £469,000 and cream off the royalties.

Raids took place in London, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Kent. Twelve people are due at City of Westminster Magistrates` Court on 15 September.

The suspects were questioned by members of Scotland Yard`s e-crime unit after the raids.
 
The move followed a joint investigation with the FBI into claims that an international criminal gang targeted the two online music stores.

Eight men will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates` Court charged with conspiracy to defraud. They are:

Denver White, 24, a care worker, of Helming Drive, Wolverhampton
Rajan Aheer, 20, a librarian, of Wellington Road, Wolverhampton
Craig Anderson, 23, unemployed, of Edwin Road, Dartford, Kent
Arran Jassi, 20, a postal worker, of Denmore Gardens, Wolverhampton
Sandeep Aheer, 22, unemployed, of Wellington Road, Wolverhampton
Colton Johnson, 19, unemployed, of Deansfield Road, Wolverhampton
Lamar Johnson, 19, of Birmingham; and James Batchelor, 27, a teacher, of Stone Hill Road, Derby

Four more suspects will appear alongside them accused of money laundering. They are:

Siobhan Clarke, 23, a hairdresser, of Limes Avenue, Carshalton, Surrey
Sheahan Steele, 41, a drugs counsellor, of Pakfield Walk, Aston, Birmingham
Matthew Clarke, 31, unemployed, of Cross Farm Road, Birmingham
Leon Miles, 19, unemployed, of Brooklands Parade, Wolverhampton

All are currently on bail.

BDST: 1215 HRS, 24 August 2010