POLICE who helped to convict “cruel fraudsters”, leading to three facing lengthy prison sentences, have hailed it as, “a great outcome for their victims”.

Ringleaders of the “highly elaborate” courier fraud were given sentences totalling almost 18 years at Durham Crown Court.

The “sophisticated, well-planned” scam preyed on the retired victims’ trustworthiness of police, as leading lights posed as officers ringing them to warn of “suspicious activity” on their bank accounts.

Read more: Courier fraud netted £718k, with £25k from victim in Durham

Having gained their trust, they would ask the victims to withdraw their savings from their accounts or purchase high value items, like Rolex watches and expensive jewellery, in lieu, to hand to couriers who would call at their homes.

The court was told between September 2018 and February 2019, the London-based crime group netted £718,900, with one victim losing £452,000, having had nothing refunded.

One of the 16 known victims across the country, from County Durham, lost about £25,000.


 

Sahil Zaman, 22, and 26-year-old Fawaz Miah, both from Camden, who have each served previous custodial sentences for similar past offences, were jailed for nine and six years, respectively.

Co-accused Noor Sharif, 20, of Torrington Place, London, received a 35-month custodial sentence.

Zaman and Sharif denied conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to conceal transfer of criminal proceeds, but both were found guilty on each count after a two-week trial, last Friday.

Miah admitted conspiracy to commit fraud at the plea hearing, at the court last August.

Judge Ray Singh praised the work of Detective Constable Gillian Coulson, of the police’s North East Regional Specialist Operations Unit (NERSOU), and Dominique Russell, of the Crown Prosecution Service, for their “painstaking work” to help convict the gang.

Following the sentencing Det Con Coulson said: “This is a cruel crime in which criminals target the most vulnerable members of our community and steal their life savings. 

“This is a great outcome for the victims and one which protects the public from further offending.

“We remain dedicated to pursuing anyone who seeks to defraud others and we encourage people to look out for vulnerable family members and friends and to challenge anyone on the phone asking for money or valuables.

“Please ring the police immediately if you notice anything suspicious.

“Police officers or your bank will never ask you to hand over money, or transfer funds.

“If you receive a call like this, do not interact, hang up and report it immediately.”

Detective Sergeant Shaun Fordy, of NERSOU, added: “As part of Operation Sentinel, our initiative to tackle serious and organised crime, we will continue the vigorous pursuit of criminals who target and exploit vulnerable people and we will bring them before the courts.”

Anyone who thinks they might have been a victim of courier fraud is asked to contact police via 101 or Action Fraud, immediately, calling 0300-123 2040.

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