Wembley conman who posed as immigration advisor hit with hefty fine
Mahesh Vora was ordered to pay �3,750 compensation and court costs - Credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima
A Wembley conman who scammed large sums of money off vulnerable individuals seeking immigration advice has been ordered to pay thousands in compensation.
Mahesh Vora, 34, of Central Road, posed as an immigration advisor while taking vast amounts from unsuspecting customers.
The Indian national was sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, 150 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £3,750 compensation and court costs by a judge at City of London Magistrates Court yesterday (Aug 7).
Vora worked out of offices in Abbey Road, Park Royal and North Circular Road in Stonebridge.
In passing his sentence, the district judge said, ‘You have no experience, training or knowledge to advise in this area of work.
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“You allowed persons to put their trust and future in you. You took a considerable sum of money from them and then avoided them over a long period of time.
“You then avoided contact with them. This was a serious offence given the amount of money involved and the impact on the applicants.”
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The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), which prosecuted Vora, became aware of his activities after receiving complaints from his clients, who had trusted him to help them with their Home Office applications.
Suzanne McCarthy, immigration services commissioner, at OISC said: “Illegally providing immigration advice is a serious offence, and the sentence handed down today reflects this. Peddling illegal immigration advice ruins people’s lives.”
