Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Spotty showersNews
£1 million international phone fraud
28/ 6/2004
A 63 year-old-man fraudster conned telecom companies out of £1
million by operating an international calls racket.
Khushi Mohammed bought services from British Telecom and other
companies in order to operate a six-booth international telephone
centre in North Manchester.
But instead of passing on to the companies their 'cut' of the
revenue from customers Mohammed, from Swaine Street in Nelson,
Lancashire kept the lot.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud a number of
telecommunications companies of over £1,000,000 and has been given
a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence.
The phone centre was opened in January 2001 and Mohammed and his
business partner applied for telecom services from British Telecom.
The applications were made in false details and supported by forged
and false documents.
As the business became established Mohammed provided false details
and documents to a number of other telephone companies for services
that he never paid for, quickly running up bills of thousands of
pounds. By using computerised telecommunications equipment
installed at his shop and home address he was able to re-route
international telephone calls through the telephone systems of his
intended victims.
Complaints were received from a number of these companies, which
led to a police investigation into the activities of Mohammed. In
October 2003 Mohammed was charged with conspiracy to defraud
telephone companies.
Detective Sergeant Graham Stevens said: "This man established an
elaborate plan to defraud these companies to his own ends, making
applications for services from the companies he intended to
defraud. He has today paid the price being sent to prison. He not
only targeted British Telecom but also smaller companies who have
lost a great deal of revenue and in some cases ceased trading
because of his actions.
I would like to thank the investigators from the telephone
companies who helped us with our enquiries that have resulted in
this man being brought to justice."
Got an opinion you want to share?| Card | BT Fee |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer | 1.7% |
| Capital One Low Rate Platinum | HASH(0x1569c350) |
| Capital One Fixed Rate Card | 0.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Lloyds TSB | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
5.50% |
|
PRINCIPALITY BS e-SAVER |
5.35% |
|
ANGLO IRISH BANK Easy Access Account Issue 2 |
5.25% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
2.75% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Online Tracker |
4.75% |
|
BRADFORD & BINGLEY eSavings 6 |
4.60% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
3.50% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER eSaver - Issue 2 |
5.00% |
|
POST OFFICE Instant Saver |
3.75% |