Two men have been sentenced for money laundering offences after five elderly and vulnerable victims were tricked into transferring more than £30,000 by scammers posing as bank fraud investigators.
Bradford Crown Court heard the victims, aged between 69 and 84, received calls from a man who claimed to be investigating fraudulent activity.
The caller persuaded them they could help catch fraudsters by transferring money into specified accounts as part of a supposed “sting” operation.
The accounts were linked to Wasim Javed and Mohammed Ali.
Victims Tricked Into Moving Money
The court heard some of the money was later used to purchase foreign currency.
Prosecutor Brogan Riley summarised victim impact statements which detailed the financial and emotional damage caused.
One 71-year-old woman said she lost £15,000.
She said she had become worried about answering the phone and had been left “devastated” by the loss.
Victim Could Not Adapt Home Or Go On Holiday
The woman said she had been unable to make adaptations to her home because of the money she lost.
She also said she had not been able to take a holiday since the fraud in 2023.
A relative of another victim said the impact on her and the wider family had been profound, although her bank later refunded the money.
Another woman, who recovered half of what she lost, said the caller had sounded professional.
She said the experience had made her less trusting and more cautious.
Wasim Javed Jailed For 28 Months
Police arrested Wasim Javed and Mohammed Ali in 2023.
Both later pleaded guilty in June this year to offences of possessing criminal property.
Javed, 33, of Pinderfields Road, Wakefield, admitted two charges linked to victims who transferred around £20,000 in July 2023.
The court heard he had previous convictions for drug offences.
Recorder Taryn Turner jailed him for 28 months.
Mohammed Ali Avoids Immediate Custody
Ali, 22, of Grange Drive, Allerton, Bradford, admitted two counts of possessing criminal property.
Those offences related to further victims who transferred around £13,000 in October 2023.
The court heard Ali had no previous convictions and was 19 at the time of the offending.
He was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years.
He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
Defence Says Javed Wanted To Apologise
Fuad Arshad, representing Javed, said his client wanted to apologise for his conduct.
The court heard Javed’s previous drug offending dated back to 2016 and that he had stayed out of trouble for the past three years.
Mr Arshad said Javed accepted there was no excuse for his actions.
Judge Calls Offending ‘Very Mean And Ugly’
Recorder Turner described the offending as “very mean and ugly”.
She said the victims had been deliberately manipulated and deceived.
The judge accepted neither Javed nor Ali was before the court for carrying out the fraud itself, but said they had played an important role in allowing the criminal scheme to operate.
“These people were deliberately manipulated and deceived and the losses were substantial,” she said.
“I have no doubt for them it has been an extremely traumatic affair.”
