Conmen pretending to be police who defrauded elderly ordered to repay criminal gains

Two fraudsters behind a series of scams impersonating police officers have been ordered to repay more than £50,000, with nearly £20,000 going to the victims of their crimes.

Over two months, Hamza Ali, 29, of Peregrine Road, Luton, and Ahsan Naseer, 31, of Larch Road, Cricklewood in London, called ten victims claiming to be police officers investigating fraud.

Targeting elderly and vulnerable people, the pair convinced victims that they had been defrauded and asked if they would assist the police in catching the alleged 'suspects'.

The victims, who were mainly based in Derbyshire, were then deceived into withdrawing thousands of pounds from their bank accounts after being told it could otherwise be stolen by the supposed criminals.

Couriers purporting to be other police officers then attended the victims' homes to collect the cash, which was then taken to Ali and Naseer.

Those targeted only discovered that the 'police officers' were fictitious after being contacted by genuine detectives from Derbyshire Constabulary and Greater Manchester Police, who were investigating reports of the scam.

The investigation was subsequently passed to specialist investigators at the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) after it was determined that the suspects formed part of a nationwide organised criminal network.

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After being identified and apprehended, Ali and Naseer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and, in March 2023, were each sentenced to three-and-a-half years' imprisonment.

Following the initial police operation, ERSOU's financial investigators opened new enquiries to establish how much the pair had earned through illegal means.

On Friday (12 April) at St Albans Crown Court, Ahsan Naseer was ordered to pay back £25,433 whilst Hamza Ali was told to repay £25,770.

A compensation order of over £19,000 was also made to three of the victims who had not already been compensated by their bank.

Detective Inspector Mhairi Shurmer, from ERSOU's Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: "Ali and Naseer preyed on some of the most vulnerable members of society and took advantage of the trust that they hold in the police.

"We hope we have been able to restore their faith by bringing these men to justice and ensuring that they do not profit from their despicable acts of criminality.

"ERSOU is committed in the fight against fraud and will seek out and prosecute those who deceive and deprive others."

Your bank or the police will never call you to ask you to verify your personal details or PIN by phone, or offer to pick up your money or bank card by courier. For more information see www.actionfraud.police.uk/courierfraud

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