A woman who fell victim to a romance fraudster and subsequently embezzled nearly £1 million from her employers, Lei Dat & Baig Solicitors in Liverpool, has now been handed a prison sentence. Manjit Singh, 60, transferred £958,180 from the company’s accounts to an account belonging to Ravi Jani. A man she met on a dating site. The court heard that Singh’s personal circumstances made her vulnerable to exploitation, and she became trapped in the romance scam after Jani promised to marry her. However, before his supposed arrival, he claimed he needed money for an emergency.
The Con and the Consequences
Singh, of Toxteth, joined Lei Dat & Baig Solicitors as a volunteer on IT systems in 2014. Over time, she became a full-time employee and gained access to financial transactions. She was entrusted with transferring money between client and office accounts under the supervision of owner Naeem Baig.
Late in the evening on October 6, 2021, Mr Baig was taken aback to find that his business account, expected to have a balance of £800,000, instead contained a mere £40,000. Delving deeper, he discovered eight transactions varying from £1,000 to £260,000 that had taken place over the previous fortnight, all directed towards the same account.
The Romance Fraud Unveiled
Singh confessed to erroneously conducting these transactions from the company account instead of her personal one and demonstrated this by showing Mr Baig an image of a cheque issued by Ravi as reimbursement. She also presented screenshots of a bank account, allegedly Ravi’s, with a balance exceeding $2,000,000.
Singh explained that she believed Ravi, whom she met on a marriage-focused dating site, wanted to marry her. Initially hesitant to fulfil his financial requests, Singh eventually succumbed to the increasing demands. Believing that the money would be repaid and that they would be able to unite.
However, Mr Baig’s doubts only escalated after conversing with the fraudster over the phone. Fearing his business was at risk, he decided to report the matter to the authorities.
Legal Consequences and Personal Impact
During the trial, Singh admitted to eight counts of fraud and was sentenced to two years in prison by Judge David Aubrey KC. The judge recognised that while Singh had committed fraudulent acts, she was also a victim herself. He referred to the case as a classic romance fraudster scam, highlighting Singh’s vulnerability and her belief in a relationship that never truly existed. The consequences of her actions extended beyond her personal sentence, as the solicitor’s firm faced higher charges, and Mr Baig experienced significant emotional distress, requiring anti-depressant medication and pledging personal assets to guarantee payments.
In court, the presentation highlighted Singh’s vulnerability and susceptibility to exploitation. She had faced personal hardships, including her father’s shooting while serving as a police officer in Malaysia, her own struggle with cancer, and the dissolution of her marriage. These experiences left her emotionally fragile, making her an ideal target for manipulation by a romance fraudster.
The Toll of Vulnerability and Exploitation
The case of Manjit Singh serves as a cautionary tale. Shedding light on the devastating impact of romance scams and the lengths to which fraudsters will go. It highlights the importance of awareness and vigilance in recognising the signs of fraud, particularly in the realm of online relationships.
This case reinforces the need for comprehensive fraud prevention measures. Emphasising the responsibility of individuals and organisations to remain vigilant in protecting themselves against such scams. By educating themselves on the tactics used by fraudsters, individuals can fortify their defences against romance scams.
