By Shannon Mcguigan
Feezan Hameed Choudhary, a notorious con artist, has been ordered to repay £2 million or face up to 21 years in prison. Choudhary, 33, was sentenced to 11 years in 2016 for orchestrating Britain’s largest cyber scam, which defrauded 750 customers of RBS and Lloyds out of a staggering £113 million.
Known as “The Voice,” Choudhary used a variety of accents to deceive victims over the phone, posing as staff from anti-fraud departments. His gang executed a scheme called voice phishing, or “vishing,” convincing victims to reveal their banking details, which were then exploited to drain their accounts.
Choudhary flaunted his ill-gotten gains by hosting lavish parties, taking luxury holidays in Dubai, and indulging in shopping sprees at high-end retailers like Harrods. Despite his criminal activities, he managed to accumulate at least £6.5 million personally.
In a recent ruling, a judge mandated that Choudhary must repay the £2 million within three months, or face an additional eight years in prison. However, he has only returned £773,443 and claims he has no remaining assets. Prosecutors argue that he still possesses valuable properties, including a house worth over £1 million in Pakistan and a Glasgow residence valued at £103,000.
Choudhary’s defense contends that the depreciation of the Pakistani Rupee has significantly reduced his assets. Additionally, he has been offered a potential £50,000 from a documentary production, although the funds would not go directly to him due to his criminal status.
Judge Adam Hiddleston stated that if Choudhary fails to repay the £2 million, an extra eight years will be added to his sentence. Following an earlier conviction, he had already received an additional 2.5 years for running a similar scam from behind bars.
Choudhary’s future release date remains uncertain, as he could serve up to 21 years total, including the newly imposed sentences. In court, he expressed that he has undergone a “spiritual journey” during his incarceration, stating, “Money is not everything. This is not happiness. It’s fake happiness.”
Before his imprisonment, Choudhary was known for showcasing his wealth on social media, often appearing with exotic animals and celebrities like Pakistani pop star Bilal Saeed. He proudly boasted about employing a team of valets for his fleet of luxury vehicles, which included Bentleys and Lamborghinis, with his scams generating over £3 million monthly.