Conmen snared by Westminster Police are jailed for £250k courier fraud scam

Mominur Rahman, 19, was jailed for a year (Image: Archant)

Yesterday 19-year-old Mominur Rahman was jailed for his role in a courier fraud scam where pensioners from Westminster, Camden, Kensington and Chelsea, City of London, Lambeth and Richmond-upon-Thames were duped into handing over cash and expensive watches.

Abdul Mohib, 23, from Kings Cross, was also jailed for the cowardly swindle in which both men would pose as police officers and tell their victims over the phone that they had been a victim of a bank account fraud and needed to help them with their ‘investigation.

Southwark Crown Court heard the victims were told to call back their bank or the police but the fraudsters had not disconnected the call so would be on the other line to legitimise the claim.

The men would convince their victims that corrupt employees at banks, currency exchange shops and high-end jewellers were involved and they should visit the venues and withdraw large quantities of cash or buy foreign currency and expensive watches.

Abdul Mohib, 23, was jailed for three years and eight months (Image: Archant)

The victims were told to make the transactions a secret to prevent the ‘police investigation’ from being blown and the men would visit them to collect the money or goods.

On one occasion, a 68-year-old handed over £8,500 whilst at the funeral of a friend and three others were targeted repeatedly over a number of days; with one 85-year-old giving them £28,250 over a three day period.

Rahman was arrested after he collected £3,000 from one victim in October last year and Mohib was held shortly afterwards.

Detectives found mobile phones used to contact victims in Mohib’s bedroom and images on his phone and a tablet showed some of the victims’ personal and account information.

CCTV image of Rahman at a victim's address (Image: Archant)

They also found a £20,850 gold Rolex watch worth £20,850 taken from an 80-year-old victim in his chest of drawers.

Mohib was jailed for three years and eight months and Rahman was sentenced to a year.

Detective Constable Will Richards, from Westminster Police, said: “This is a particularly unpleasant version of the courier fraud scam that exploits its victims’ sense of public duty and preparedness to go to extraordinary lengths to help the police. Beyond their significant financial losses, these offences undermine victims’ self-confidence and trust in others. Many were left feeling vulnerable and humiliated. This was a cruel and cunning scam, and the only people who should feel humiliated by it are those responsible.

“These crimes were clearly well planned and practiced. Abdul Mohib kept victims on the phone for several hours and did his best to prevent them from discussing what was happening with their families. He was careful to weave genuine information and police jargon into his conversations. He provided victims with contact details and reference numbers; even inviting some to attend bogus court hearings at Southwark Crown Court.

“I hope that this result will increase public awareness of this type of crime. I would encourage anyone who receives an unsolicited call from someone purporting to be a police officer or bank employee to be wary and be sure to obtain the caller’s full details. Make sure their call has been disconnected by waiting at least five minutes before calling back on an official telephone number and listen for the dial tone. Do not hand over any money or items purchased as a result of this type of call.”