A Birmingham fraudster who used an elaborate “smishing” scam to con six elderly women out of more than £30,000 has finally been jailed after his original suspended sentence was challenged at the Court of Appeal.
Mohammed Gulzar, 26, of Nora Road, Sparkhill, posed as victims’ banks and persuaded them to hand over sensitive personal information, including passwords, bank details, physical bank cards and PIN numbers.
His victims were based across Derbyshire, Warwickshire, West Mercia and Hampshire.
The offending took place while Gulzar was already subject to a suspended sentence for similar offences.
What Is Smishing?
Smishing is a form of fraud carried out through deceptive text messages.
Criminals typically impersonate banks, delivery firms, government bodies or other trusted organisations in an attempt to persuade victims to hand over personal or financial information.
In Gulzar’s case, investigators found he contacted elderly women while pretending to be their bank.
He then used the information he obtained to gain access to their accounts.
Uber Drivers Sent To Collect Bank Cards
The scam went beyond simply obtaining online banking details.
Gulzar persuaded victims to hand over their physical bank cards and PIN numbers.
He even arranged for Uber drivers to collect the cards from victims while convincing them that the process was part of their bank’s efforts to protect their money.
The cards were then passed on for fraudulent use.
One Victim Left With £11,500 Loan
One of Gulzar’s victims suffered particularly significant losses.
Almost £5,000 was spent from her overdraft and an £11,500 loan was taken out.
Across the six victims, more than £30,000 was obtained through the fraud.
Victim impact statements described women being left frightened, upset and suspicious after realising they had been deceived.
Some said they no longer felt safe in their own homes and had become wary of everyday interactions.
Arrested While Asleep In Bed
Gulzar was arrested in July 2024 following an investigation by the regional Proactive Economic Crime Team, based within the East Midlands Special Operations Unit.
Detective Inspector Richard Cornell said officers found Gulzar asleep when they arrived to arrest him.
The phone used to contact victims, along with Gulzar’s personal phone, were underneath him and were seized by investigators.
Initially Denied Offences
Gulzar was charged in November 2025 with conspiracy to defraud the six women.
He initially pleaded not guilty.
However, he changed his plea before the case went to trial.
Despite the seriousness of the offending and the fact he had committed it while subject to an earlier suspended sentence, Gulzar was initially given another suspended sentence.
That decision was subsequently challenged.
Sentence Appealed
The case was taken to the Court of Appeal after police and prosecutors argued the original punishment did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offending.
On Friday, September 18, the Court of Appeal replaced the suspended sentence with an immediate custodial term.
Gulzar was jailed for four years and four months.
‘Some Of The Worst Offending I’ve Seen’
Detective Inspector Richard Cornell, who oversees the economic crime team, described the case as among the most serious fraud offending he had encountered.
He said Gulzar had managed to obtain thousands of pounds while continuing to offend despite an earlier conviction and suspended sentence for similar crimes.
Cornell said that history was a major factor behind the decision to work with the Crown Prosecution Service to challenge the second suspended sentence.
He said the original punishment had not been enough of a deterrent.
Police Seeking £33,000 Confiscation Order
Investigators are now seeking to recover money linked to the fraud.
Police said they would apply for a confiscation order of £33,000 in an effort to recover what they described as Gulzar’s ill-gotten gains.
Cornell said the custodial sentence meant Gulzar would no longer be able to target vulnerable victims while serving his term.
