Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers is hunting for ten of the most wanted fraudsters from across the UK, this follows reports earlier this year that fraud cost the UK an estimated £38 billion in 2010*. [2 August 2011]

The ten on Crimestoppers’ Most Wanted Fraudsters list are believed to be responsible for at least £200 million worth of fraud.

With fraud costing each one of us over £700 a year, the national charity has launched the campaign to try and track down ten of the most wanted fraudsters in the UK.

Those profiled as part of the campaign include individuals that are wanted for high value VAT fraud, fraud by false representation and bank account fraud.

Fraud: "not a victimless crime"

Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers, said: “This is not a victimless crime. Every single one of us is paying higher taxes, bank charges and insurance fees because of fraud.

“The amount of fraud against the public purse is around £27 billion a year. This is equivalent to 30 per cent of the estimated national education budget for 2011/2012**. Think of the many cuts and savings that would not have to occur if we did not suffer this level of fraud!
 
“Serious fraudsters often operate as part of gangs and fraud is just one of their business streams. This can result in the funding of drugs and people trafficking, which causes real harm to many.

“Fraud is not acceptable and must not be tolerated. If you know of anyone committing fraud, or know the whereabouts of those featured in this campaign, I urge you to call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by filling in an online information giving form. We guarantee that no one will know your identity. Help us take these criminals out of circulation.”

The 10 ‘Most Wanted’ individuals are:

Subject: Nicholas SLOCOMBE - Arrested - read the press release

Subject: Jascent NAKAWUNDE - Arrested - read the press release

Subject: Kevin Andrew LEITCH - Arrested - read the press release

Subject: Misba UDDIN - Arrested - read the press release

Subject: Ajayi SEUN - Arrested - read the press release

Subject: Nasser AHMED

DOB: 28 October 1972
Offences: AHMED is wanted for his role in a large scale VAT fraud in the region of £156 million in the Bristol area.
He absconded during the trial and was sentenced to 6 years in his absence. His current location is not known. See the appeal for AHMED on Most Wanted.

Subject: Timur MEHMET

ODB: 13 April 1973
Offences: MEHMET is wanted for his role in a large scale VAT fraud of £25 million. He absconded prior to his trial and was sentenced in his absence to 8 years imprisonment. His current location is not known, although he has links with the North London area. See the appeal for MEHMET on Most Wanted.

Subject: Peter STEAD

DOB: 2/9/1962
Offences: Allegedly tricked several Derby landlords out of money in the summer of 2009. He offered to put on a comedy night to raise money for the Lewis Mighty Fund. He was given cash by landlords to secure the booking but failed to perform. The fund was launched to send four-year-old Lewis, a cancer patient, to America for treatment.
Description: Stead is in his 40s, of large build, with sandy blond hair.
Alias: Danny Kay. See the appeal for STEAD on Most Wanted.

Subject: Mohamad KHAN

DOB: 30 June 1982
Offences: KHAN is from Waltham cross and is believed to be in London. He is responsible for using counterfeit credit cards in order to purchase high value items from shopping centers such as Bluewater and Lakeside. He was arrested by Police and charged, however, subsequently failed to attend Crown Court. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. The value of goods purchased is in excess of £100,000. See the appeal for KHAN on Most Wanted.

Subject: Unknown

Offences: Between 20/10/2008 and 28/10/2008 in Bethnal Green, London an unknown female suspect entered a bank branch and falsely obtained a debit card and account details in the name of a legitimate customer. She then attended three additional branches in Saffron Walden, Cranbrook and Cambridge Hills and fraudulently transferred funds out of the customer’s account. These electronic transfers were wired to locations across the world and used to purchase a number of high-value vehicles. The total amount stolen was £650,000. See the appeal for this subject on Most Wanted.

-ENDS-

For further information contact Crimestoppers' press office.

Notes to editors

•    *Estimated £38 billion cost of fraud in 2010 and £765 cost to adult population per year reported by National Fraud Authority in January 2011.

•    **The 30 per cent of the Education Budget is based on the estimated £89 billion announced for 2011/2012 in this year’s Budget, announced in March 2011.

•    Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes, making communities safer. It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number 0800 555 111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use our ‘giving information’ form via our website www.crimestoppers-uk.org

•    Around 23 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers.

•    Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over a million actionable calls, resulting in over 108,000 arrests and charges. Over £115 million worth of goods has been recovered and over £213 million worth of drugs has been seized.

•    In 2005, Crimestoppers launched the UK’s Most Wanted on its website which allows the public to view images of criminals and pass on vital information about their whereabouts. It has been highly successful with over 1,000 arrests to date.

•    Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers’ ‘call to action’ is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.