Three men—Imran Miah, 30, Shamant Sheraji, 26, and Andy Munoz-Cadena, 26—have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a courier fraud scheme across Teesside and North Yorkshire.
Between October and November 2020, the trio contacted victims while pretending to be police officers. They falsely warned that the victims’ bank accounts were at risk and urged them to withdraw cash for “protection.” The cash was then collected by couriers sent to the victims’ homes.
The North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), working with Cleveland Police, launched an investigation once the scam was uncovered. The team quickly identified and arrested the men before any money was lost.
All three pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court and received the following sentences on June 13:
Imran Miah (Clarence Gardens, London): 3 years 6 months
Andy Munoz-Cadena (Haden Court, Islington): 2 years 6 months
Shamant Sheraji (Ray Walk, London): 2 years 3 months
Detective Sergeant Gillian Coulson of NEROCU highlighted the emotional and financial harm courier fraud causes victims and praised the dedicated officers who brought the scammers to justice.
Detective Inspector Shaun Fordy emphasized the ongoing regional efforts under Operation Sentinel to tackle serious crime, urging the public to warn vulnerable friends and relatives about courier fraud. He reminded everyone that neither banks nor police would ever request money to be withdrawn or collected via courier, advising people to hang up and contact their bank’s Fraud Team immediately.
Sgt Kevin Appleby of Cleveland Police’s Fraud Team condemned the offenders for exploiting public trust and encouraged anyone concerned about fraud to seek help via Cleveland Police or Action Fraud.
