Fraudsters jailed after targeting Tiverton victim
Fraudsters who preyed on vulnerable people across the UK and Channel Islands, by stealing money from their bank accounts, have been jailed.
Six offenders, aged between 21 and 45, have been jailed for a total of more than 20 years at Bristol Crown Court for their crime, which involved duping more than £1.3m from vulnerable and elderly victims, including many living in the south west of England. A seventh person has been given a nine month custodial sentence (suspended for two years).
More than 40 victims were conned out of a total of £1.3m by the well-organised gang, who showed no concern for their victims who live in Scotland, the north east of England, north west England, the south east of England, south of England, the East Midlands, Yorkshire, Cheshire and the east of England.
One of the victims, from Tiverton, Devon, was duped out of more than £12,700 back in March 2014.
HHJ Cotter described the group, from Glasgow, as “united by ferocious greed, enjoying the high life lived on the hard earned money of others, causing untold misery and devastating effects on the victims.”
Sums of between £1,900 and £129,000 were taken as the seven preyed on the vulnerable victims, asking them to transfer large sums of money from their “compromised” bank accounts to new “safe” accounts, set up by the defendants, who posed as members of a bank or Visa security.
They would ask them to call their bank or use the number on the reverse of the bank card.
After “closing” the call the perpetrators would remain on the telephone line, effectively locking it, so that the worried victim went straight back to them confiding private information, thinking they were speaking to their bank or a bank security officer.
The offenders used multiple mobile phones and SIM cards and made 100s of calls to potential victims – a significant number of the calls resulted in failure. But for every successful call by the fraudster it often resulted in the victim emptying their bank accounts into the newly set-up “safe” account.
A mistake by one of the offenders provided a breakthrough for investigators being able to identify that person and infiltrate the operation.
On 12 November 2014 a search warrant was executed at two addresses in Glasgow and 50 mobile phones and more than £105,000 in cash was seized. Arrests followed.
Zephyr detectives continued their investigations and in January 2015 further arrests were made as the crime group’s operation folded.
Zephyr’s DI Tony Hubbard, the senior investigating officer, said: “This was a callous crime which targeted the vulnerable and elderly. There was no concern shown whatsoever to the victims, regardless of their age or vulnerability.
“The method used by the offenders was to cold-call the victims, impersonating a bank official or a security investigator working for a banking card company. They advised the victim that they believed their account had been compromised.
“They then advised the victim to call their bank – providing a number. But they remained on the line which meant that the victim went through to the original caller or one his colleague.
“The victim, who was unaware they were being duped and believing they were speaking to a bank official was then asked to transfer funds from one bank account to a new safe account (under the control of the fraudster). Once the money was transferred it was then moved to another account or series of accounts, set up by the fraudsters.
“We can’t emphasise too strongly that people will not be asked to disclose account details over the phone and if they are suspicious of the phone call should hang up immediately, wait for five minutes before contacting the bank or ideally use a different phone,” said DI Hubbard.
Financial investigator DC Kevin Forrest of Zephyr, was commended by the Judge. He said DC Forrest had “shown excellent police work and commitment to the difficult task of preparing this investigation. He is to be commended.”
Offenders and sentencing details:
Atif Mohammed, aged 25, of 13 Myrtle Park, Crosshill, Glasgow, admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and was jailed for six years.
Saif Mohammed, aged 21, of 13 Myrtle Park, Crosshill, Glasgow, admitted concealing, disguising, converting or transferring criminal property and was sentenced to 12 months.
Asif Ali, aged 33 of Kilmarnock Road, Glasgow, admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation was sentenced to five years and 10 months (including three months for mortgage fraud).
Shabeer Ahmed, aged 26, of Garturk Street, Glasgow, admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation was jailed for five years and two months (including one month for mortgage fraud).
Shakeal Ahmed, aged 21, of Garturk Street, Glasgow, admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and was jailed for three years six months.
Shameem Ali aged 45, of Myrtle Park, Glasgow, convicted to possession of criminal property and sentenced to two years.
Zoe Latif aged 26, of Hurlethill Court, Glasgow, admitted encouraging or assisting offences of theft or fraud and was jailed for nine months (suspended for two years), ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work and costs of £1200.
Financial investigator DC Kevin Forrest was commended by the Judge. He said DC Forrest had “shown excellent police work and commitment to the difficult task of preparing this investigation. He is to be commended.”
