Telephone fraud gang banged up for a total of 33 years

A gang of tele-fraudsters who conned vulnerable people out of tens of thousands of pounds by posing as police officers to gain access to their bank accounts over the phone has been jailed for 33 years.
The nine men from London and Birmingham rang their victims and claimed that criminal activity was taking place on their bank accounts or at their bank branch.
After gaining their trust the gang conned their victims into handing over large sus of money, in some cases their life savings; in total the gang stole £39,500 fromsix people and tried to gain a further £84,150 from 11 further identifiable victims.
The investigation lasted two and a half years and three of the victims died without seeing the fraudsters brought to justice.
Eight defendants who admitted conspiracy to defraud were Amanul Islam, 26; Mizan Ali, 22; Abdul Ali, 26; Tanvir Ahmed 26; Mohammed Jakir Miah, 25; Ruhin Khan 25; Ali Nuruddin, 25, and Junaid Patwary, 25. A ninth, Abu Kaher, 26, was found guilty after an earlier trial at Hull Crown Court.
Helen Wheatley, from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “It was a systematically planned and highly organised operation. All of the victims have suffered emotionally as a result of the fraud and unfortunately three have since died without knowing what the outcome of this case would be. I hope the sentences will be of some comfort to the victims and their families.”

TOPICS:financial services fraud vulnerable