Four scammers who ripped off victims, including in the North East, for a total of £250,000 have been sentenced at court following an investigation into a large-scale fraud and money laundering operation.
Last August, officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) received a report from Northumbria Police of an elderly man, who had been contacted by fraudsters claiming to be from his bank.
Saif Hussain (Image: NEROCU)
They informed the victim that there had been fraudulent activity involving his bank account and that a courier would attend his home address to collect his bank cards, pin number and phone. The scammers then used the cards to make large cash withdrawals and purchases
During the investigation, police uncovered further victims in Newcastle, Northumberland, Cleveland, Darlington, Leeds, Colchester, Keswick, Shipley, Derbyshire and Stoke-on-Trent, all linked to the illicit operation – with over £250K in total being scammed from victims.
Nadia Simelane (Image: NEROCU)
Brendan Mbara, 27, Saif Hussain, 31, Nadia Simelane, 34, and Faith Moyo, 21, swiftly found themselves arrested and charged.
Searches of cars during the investigation resulted in the discovery of thousands of pounds worth of Apple products and high-value items from Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
Faith Moyo (Image: NEROCU)
Additionally, police uncovered multiple mobile phones and bank cards in the names of others.
Yesterday (Friday), the four appeared at Newcastle Crown Court.
Hussain, of Gilpin View, Leeds, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud and was sentenced to four years and three months.
Mbara, of Middleton Little Road, Allerton Bywater, Castleford, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud and Money Laundering and was sentenced to three years and 10 months.
Brendan Mbara (Image: NEROCU)
Simelane, of Trafalgar Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud and Money Laundering and was sentenced to two years suspended for two years and 150 hours unpaid work.
Read more
County Durham addict fleeced vulnerable friend of £25k in bogus ‘bonus ball’ scheme
Watch - Nathan Blagg speeding through a town centre in a stolen tractor
New 'dodgy' Fire Stick warning as £29,000 fines issued in newest 2026 crackdown
Moyo, of Gamblehill Drive, Bramley, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud and Money Laundering and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years and 150 hours unpaid work.
Following sentencing, NEROCU Detective Constable Sophie Snowdon, part of NEROCU’s Proactive Economic Crime Team, said: “Courier Fraud is an abhorrent crime which generally targets the elderly and most vulnerable in our communities and thankfully, this is just the latest robust action taken against criminals looking to implement and run fraud operations in our region.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in this investigation, our partners in Northumbria Police, Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) and Greater Manchester Police, this has been yet another fantastic display of a united police front against fraudsters.”