Credit card swindlers Mohibur Rahman and Abdul Ullah jailed for part in a ‘sophisticated scam’

Published: 19 August, 2010
by DAVID ST GEORGE

TWO swindlers who took part in “sophisti­cated scams” using credit cards from innocent ­victims were jailed on Tuesday.

The Old Bailey heard that the pair were “foot soldiers” for a gang targetting Asian residents across Camden.

Restaurant worker Mohibur Rahman and unemployed Abdul Ullah took the risks while those higher up the gang chain pocketed the profits.

They did the dirty work and exposed themselves to arrest after being filmed on CCTV and identified at a shopping precinct in Shepherd’s Bush.

Other crooks posed as bank fraud investigators when they contacted unsuspecting customers and tricked them into handing over credit cards, collected by couriers.

In two cases customers were duped and one parted with 12 credit cards, the court was told.

Within hours, Rahman and Ullah were able to obtain a Rolex watch worth £8,000 and a laptop worth almost £2,000.

The property was “sold on” and never recovered.

Rahman, of Sandfield, Cromer Street, King’s Cross, and Uullah, 18, of Athlone Street, Kentish Town, admitted their parts in the swindle.

Judge Paul Worsley QC heard that they were “used” by clever con men and were drawn to the activity by the lure of easy money.

Rahman was reported to have a previous conviction for cannabis possession, while Ullah had six convictions for 10 offences including drugs possession and a similar credit card scam.

Judge Worsley jailed Ullah for 15 months and Rahman for 10 months, telling them: “You have pleaded guilty to two frauds. You preyed on decent and trusting members of the community. This sort of offending is prevalent and involves planning and sophistication.”