Feezan Hameed Choudhary, the mastermind behind Britain’s largest vishing scam, claims he has undergone a ‘spiritual journey’ during his nine years in prison. Choudhary, 33, received an 11-year sentence in 2016 for leading a fraudulent enterprise that conned 750 RBS and Lloyds customers out of over £113 million.
A whopping 96% of individuals faced at least one phishing attack in the past year, with 52% of these attacks becoming more sophisticated. The high volume of phishing attacks significantly increases the risk of breaches, with 92% of businesses also admitting that they have been targeted.
Luxurious Lifestyle Funded by Fraud
Choudhary splurged the stolen money on extravagant parties with pop stars, luxury vacations in Dubai, and lavish shopping sprees at Harrods. The fraudsters transferred cash from victims’ accounts by convincing them to reveal their details, posing as anti-fraud department staff—a scam known as voice phishing or ‘vishing’.
In court, Hameed described his ‘spiritual journey’ since meeting an Imam in prison. He stated, “It’s been nine years. I’ve lost a lot. I have been on a spiritual journey. Money is not everything. This is not happiness. It’s fake happiness. I could have got married and had kids.”
The Voice Behind the Scam
Based in Glasgow, Hameed earned at least £6.5 million from the scam. Known as ‘The Voice,’ he used various accents to deceive victims. Prosecutors are attempting to recover his assets, including a property worth over £1 million in Pakistan. So far, Hameed has repaid just £773,443 but claims he has nothing left.
Defence lawyer Andrew Bird argued that the devaluation of the Pakistani Rupee has significantly reduced the value of any assets Hameed may have. Additionally, Hameed owns a family house in Glasgow worth £103,000, though its condition has depreciated. During a Southwark Crown Court hearing, it was revealed that a production company has offered to pay the £50,000 fee Hameed would have received for appearing in a TV documentary against his order, as they do not pay criminals directly.
Cracking Down on Phishing
A series of police raids in Glasgow and the Midlands dismantled Hameed’s vishing scam. He flaunted his wealth on Instagram, posing with a tiger and mingling with celebrities. He even produced a music video for Pakistani pop star Bilal Saeed. Boasting about his riches, Hameed claimed he could afford a team of valets to polish his fleet of custom Porsches, which included a Bentley and a Lamborghini. The scam generated over £3 million a month.
In 2017, while still in prison, Hameed received an additional two-and-a-half-year sentence for orchestrating a similar scam from his cell. His imprisonment did not deter him from continuing his fraudulent activities, demonstrating his relentless commitment to deception even when behind bars.
Protecting Yourself from Vishing
To avoid falling victim to vishing scams, follow these fraud prevention tips:
- Never share personal or financial information over the phone.
- Be sceptical of unsolicited calls, especially those asking for sensitive information.
- Verify the caller’s identity by contacting the organisation directly using a known, official number.
- Report any suspicious calls to relevant authorities, such as Action Fraud.
The story of Feezan Hameed Choudhary serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by vishing scams. Despite his claims of a ‘spiritual journey,’ his actions caused significant financial and emotional harm to hundreds of victims. By staying informed and vigilant, we can protect ourselves and others from similar fraudulent schemes. The confiscation hearing for Hameed continues as authorities work to recover the stolen funds and bring justice to the victims.
