Qays Aktar, 30, ran elaborate courier fraud operation from holiday lets targeting elderly victims across five counties
A Wembley man who swindled eight vulnerable pensioners out of more than £100,000 by posing as a police officer has been jailed for five years and one month at Norwich Crown Court.
Qays Aktar, 30, of Grasmere Avenue, orchestrated an elaborate courier fraud scheme using temporary call centres set up in holiday lets across London and Norwich to target elderly victims with fake banking fraud investigations.
The fraudster convinced victims aged between 65 and 83 to hand over cash, bank cards and PIN numbers under the pretence of protecting their accounts from “fraudulent activity,” with officers now investigating whether his assets can be seized to compensate victims.
Sophisticated Criminal Operation
Aktar’s criminal network operated from short-term holiday lets which served as temporary call centres for cold-calling landline numbers associated with names believed to belong to elderly people. The operation targeted victims across Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, Dorset and Hampshire.
After cold-calling potential victims, Aktar would impersonate a police officer or bank official, claiming their systems had detected fraudulent activity on the victim’s account. He would then convince them to withdraw cash or purchase high-value items as part of a fictional investigation.
Courier fraud preys on the most vulnerable in society by exploiting their trust in the police to deceive them out of their savings,” said Detective Inspector Mhairi Shurmer of the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).
This type of crime has a high financial and emotional impact on victims, which is why we are committed to pursuing and apprehending those involved.
Investigation Uncovers Widespread Evidence
The investigation was launched in November 2024 following more than 100 reports of incidents across the five counties. Specialist detectives from ERSOU’s Regional Organised Crime Unit identified Aktar and arrested him during coordinated warrants.
Multiple devices were discovered during searches at properties in London, Norwich and Hatfield, including burner phones and pre-paid SIM cards used in the scam. The widespread evidence found across the properties provided officers with sufficient material to charge Aktar.
He was arrested in February 2025 and subsequently charged with eight counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. Aktar pleaded guilty to all eight offences at Norwich Crown Court on Friday.
Devastating Impact on Elderly Victims
The eight victims, ranging in age from 65 to 83, collectively lost more than £100,000 to Aktar’s scheme. Each victim was subjected to sophisticated psychological manipulation, with the fraudster exploiting their trust in authority figures.
Courier fraud typically involves victims receiving phone calls from criminals pretending to be police officers or bank officials. The caller claims to have spotted fraudulent activity on the victim’s account and convinces them that money must be withdrawn and handed over to prevent it being at risk.
Once victims withdraw cash, the fraudsters send an associate to collect it with false guarantees of reimbursement once the “investigation” is complete. The money is never returned.
In some cases, victims are also persuaded to hand over bank cards and PIN numbers, or to purchase high-value items such as jewellery, watches or gold bullion for supposed “safekeeping.”
National Scale of Courier Fraud
Aktar’s conviction comes amid growing concern about courier fraud targeting elderly and vulnerable people across the UK. Data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau reveals that 1,797 reports of courier fraud were received in the last financial year, with victims losing an average of just over £12,000 each.
The total losses to courier fraud exceeded £28.7 million last year, with people in their 80s most likely to be targeted. This age group accounts for 43 per cent of all courier fraud victims, according to Action Fraud data.
The five police force areas reporting the highest total losses were the Metropolitan Police Service, Thames Valley Police, Cheshire Constabulary, Hampshire Constabulary and Essex Police.
According to Citizens Advice, nine million people fall victim to financial scams in the UK every year, with 67 per cent of reported cases being cyber-enabled. However, the National Crime Agency warns that only 14 per cent of fraud cases are reported to Action Fraud or police, meaning the true scale of the problem is likely far greater.
Warning Signs and Protection Advice
Detective Inspector Shurmer emphasised that legitimate police officers and bank employees will never ask customers to withdraw and hand over cash or any other currency.
“If you are asked to do this, hang up and contact the police straight away,” she said. “Offenders typically target elderly or vulnerable people and purport to be from a trusted institution, creating an illusion that they are trying to help protect their money. Instead, they themselves are the criminals looking to steal it.”
The National Crime Agency recommends several protective measures:
- Using strong and different passwords for email accounts
- Always enabling two-step verification where available
- Using browser password managers to store passwords safely
- Never trusting unexpected phone calls or messages
- Contacting organisations directly using official websites, never numbers provided in suspicious messages
If contacted suspiciously, people should hang up, wait several minutes to ensure the line is clear, then call the organisation back on a number they know to be genuine, such as the one on the back of a bank card.
Proceeds of Crime Investigation
Following Aktar’s sentencing, enquiries are ongoing under the Proceeds of Crime Act to establish whether any of his assets can be seized and used to compensate his victims.
The case highlights the importance of multi-force cooperation in tackling organised fraud. ERSOU worked alongside colleagues from the City of London Police, Kent Police, Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, and the Metropolitan Police Service to bring Aktar to justice.
Growing Threat Requires Vigilance
UK Finance data shows that while some types of fraud are declining, criminals continue to adapt their methods. The organisation reports that 70 per cent of authorised push payment fraud cases now begin on online platforms, though telecommunications remain crucial for high-value frauds like courier scams.
Detective Inspector Shurmer urged the public to remain vigilant: “I would urge the public to be vigilant to this type of criminality. Police or your bank will not contact you to withdraw money from your account or to purchase high-value goods for safekeeping.”
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by courier fraud should report it to Action Fraud online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, reports should be made to Police Scotland on 101.
If someone is in immediate danger or a crime is in progress, always call 999.
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