4 MIN READ

Brothers jailed for 25 months after stealing over £100k

courier fraud

Two men have been sentenced to 25 months in prison each for their roles in a sophisticated courier fraud scam. The brothers, Zaki Daudo, 34, and Hanzalah Daudo, 46, posed as bank staff to deceive victims and steal £111,365.

The sentencing, handed down at Inner London Crown Court, follows a detailed investigation by the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU). A specialist police unit funded by the banking industry.

A Five Year Operation

From 2019 to 2024, the Daudo brothers orchestrated an elaborate scam to gain access to victims’ bank accounts. They impersonated bank employees and manipulated customers into sharing sensitive information such as security details and one-time passcodes. Once they had access to the victims’ accounts, the brothers made online purchases, draining funds and leaving their victims vulnerable.

The DCPCU, led by Detective Sergeant Chloe Fairclough, uncovered overwhelming evidence of the brothers’ fraudulent activities. Investigators found over 65,000 card numbers on Zaki’s phone and more than 29,000 sets of banking data on Hanzalah’s laptop.

Additionally, social media messages between the two brothers revealed their detailed planning and collaboration. The messages contained stolen victim data, highlighting the extent of their scheme and the deliberate nature of their crimes.

Victims Reimbursed by Banks

Thankfully, all victims were fully reimbursed by their banks. However, the financial and emotional toll of the scam cannot be overstated. Many victims faced significant stress, worry, and disruption to their lives as they worked to recover from fraud.

PC Ant King, Officer in the Case, praised the collaboration between the DCPCU and the banking industry, which was critical in stopping the Daudo brothers from continuing their fraudulent activities.

“This case demonstrates the callousness of the Daudo brothers in stealing thousands from banking customers,” said PC King. “The money stolen is only a snapshot of the potential losses to victims had these two been able to continue their crimes.”

The Rise of Courier Fraud

Typically, the scam begins with an unsolicited phone call. The scammer claims there has been suspicious activity on the victim’s bank account or that their funds are at risk. They may request the victim’s bank details or one-time passcodes under the guise of “protecting” their money.

In more advanced schemes, the fraudster arranges for a “courier” to collect the victim’s bank cards, PINs, or even cash. The victim is often instructed to place these items in an envelope for the courier, believing it is part of an official investigation. These scams rely on creating a sense of urgency and fear, leaving victims too anxious to question the authenticity of the requests.

The scale of courier fraud is alarming. Recent statistics from Action Fraud reveal that in the past year alone, victims in the UK lost over £12.7 million to courier fraud. The average age of victims is 74, underscoring how fraudsters disproportionately target older, more vulnerable individuals.

Sentencing Raises Questions

Despite the scale of the fraud and the deliberate targeting of unsuspecting victims, the Daudo brothers received sentences of just 25 months each. For crimes that spanned five years, defrauded countless individuals, and involved tens of thousands of compromised accounts, many view this sentence as surprisingly lenient.

The punishment does not seem to reflect the extensive damage caused, both financially and emotionally, to the victims. It also raises concerns about whether such sentences truly deter others from engaging in similar crimes.

Need for Greater Awareness

The case of the Daudo brothers underscores the importance of fraud awareness in protecting yourself and others. While the banking industry continues to work closely with law enforcement to combat crimes like courier fraud, public vigilance remains essential. If the victims in this case had known that neither their bank nor the police would ever call to request account information, PINs, or cash, they could have avoided falling into the fraudsters’ trap. 

Fraud awareness is critical in combating schemes like courier fraud, which relies on exploiting trust and creating urgency. Educating the public about these tactics empowers individuals to recognise red flags and question suspicious requests. Awareness campaigns that highlight the official protocols of banks and law enforcement can prevent countless cases of fraud. Knowledge is a powerful tool in stopping scammers before they cause financial and emotional harm.

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