It was a nice little money earner until they got caught – now 16 men have been convicted of a £2million fraud conspiracy. Porches, Mercedes and BMWs were all busted in an organized crime scam using fraudulent credit agreements based on stolen information. The five London men at the center of the fraud – described by the lead detective as ‘shameless’ – have now been locked up for a total of more than fifteen years.
The scam worked by giving several men false identity documents and then arranging credit agreements using others’ details. Once the loan was completed with car dealers across the country, the men, known as “strikers,” used their false identities to pick up cars from various locations, such as hotel parking garages.
Between February 2020 and July 2022, 75 cars worth more than £2 million were stolen. Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Specialist Investigation Team worked with the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) on the investigation to find out how criminals across the country carried out the scheme.
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‘Shameless group of scammers’
Jon Radford, Head of Intelligence, Investigations and Data Services at the IFB, said: “We are pleased to see that justice has been served following one of our largest ever investigations into identity theft; in partnership with Hertfordshire Police, NaVCIS and our insurers.
‘This shameless group of scammers have stolen the identities of hundreds of people to take out fraudulent insurance policies, without regard to the consequences for the victims, in an elaborate attempt to steal brand new cars through financial deals.
“Identity theft is a growing threat that causes real harm as it enables a wide range of crimes. We encourage the public to be vigilant and if anyone believes their personal information has been compromised due to insurance scams to report it to our confidential information.
The sentences
The gang’s main offenders all pleaded guilty:
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Ammir Mukhtar, 26, of Pretoria Road North, Tottenham, four years and 10 months for fraud by false representation
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Mukhtar Ibrahim, 26, of Holcombe Road, Tottenham, four years and six months for fraud by false representation
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Emmanuel Dwamena, 36, of Cornworthy Road, Dagenham, two years and six months for theft of a motor vehicle
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Samad Miah, aged 28, of Yarmouth Crescent, Tottenham Hale, two years and one month for fraud by false representation
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Sadiq Miah, 27, of Yarmouth Crescent, Tottenham Hale, 14 months for fraud by false representation.
The ‘strikers’ all pleaded guilty, except Abdalla:
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Mohammed Jeilani, 36, of Rycroft Way, Tottenham Hale, 28 months for fraud by false representation
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Leroy Gayle, 42, of Mayville Road, Leytonstone, 18 months suspended for two years, disqualified from driving and sentenced to 250 hours unpaid work for fraud and motor vehicle theft
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Jamarl Lambert, 32 of Eternit Walk, Fulham, 24 months suspended for two years, with a six-month curfew and disqualified from driving and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work for fraud and motor vehicle theft
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Henry Galloway, 45, of Eldon Road, South Kensington, 24 months suspended for two years, rehabilitation activity requirement and five-month curfew for motor vehicle theft
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Eamon Hannigan, 52, of Barrowfield Close, Edmonton, 24 months suspended for two years, a rehabilitation activity requirement and a five-month curfew for fraud and motor vehicle theft
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Mekail Abdalla, 21, of no fixed address, suspended for 18 months for 24 months and sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid community work for fraud by false representation
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Martin Herbert, 53, of Yarmouth Crescent, Tottenham Hale, 14 months, suspended for 18 months for fraud by false representation
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Ahmed Omer Ali, 39, of Great Amwell Lane, Crouch End, suspended for 18 months for one year and six months, with a six-month curfew and a rehabilitation order for fraud by false representation
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James Layzell, 31 of Baker Avenue, Chelmsford, 13 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
Two gang members, who arranged false MOT documentation, pleaded guilty and appeared at St Albans Crown Court on April 8:
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Gerado Ortiz, 31, of Como Street, Romford, two years in prison, suspended for 18 months for fraud by false representation.
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Hassan Kijenyi, 71, of Meanley Road, Manor Park, two years in prison, suspended for 18 months for fraud by false representation.
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Both men were also ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and were given an electronically monitored curfew for six months.
‘Keep a paper trail’
Sharon Naughton, head of NaVCIS, said: “This was determined and sophisticated crime with multiple victims for each fraudulently acquired vehicle. Those who had their data stolen in the first place and who were used to illegally obtain financing for vehicles, the garages, car manufacturers and finance companies who were defrauded, and those to whom the cars were ultimately sold and who all ultimately were dropped after the vehicles were seized.
“We urge anyone purchasing a second-hand car to ensure that he or she has made every effort to ensure that the information provided to you is accurate. Ask for proof of MOT certificates and maintenance history and contact the relevant garages to confirm their authenticity. If the price seems too good to be true, trust your instincts.
“Don’t pay cash if you get a discount, but keep a paper trail. Stolen vehicle cloning has become extremely difficult to track. If you buy and drive a stolen car, your insurance will not be valid and will lead to you being uninsured loss if the vehicle is seized.”
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