Qays Aktar, 30, of Grasmere Avenue in Wembley, has been sentenced to five years and one month in prison after admitting to eight counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. The sentencing took place at Norwich Crown Court on Friday, September 19.
Aktar was arrested following coordinated raids in Hatfield, London, and Norwich. Investigations revealed that he led a group involved in a sophisticated courier fraud scheme—a scam where criminals impersonate police officers to deceive victims into handing over money.
He orchestrated the fraud by renting short-term holiday properties in Norwich and London, using them as makeshift call centres. From these locations, he and his team targeted landline numbers linked to names that sounded like they belonged to elderly individuals.
Once contact was made, the victims were falsely told they were part of a police investigation into banking fraud. Aktar, posing as an officer, would convince them their money was at risk and needed to be handed over for “safekeeping” or examination.
This elaborate scheme caused emotional and financial distress to several vulnerable people, ultimately leading to Aktar’s arrest and conviction.
