A fraudster who made thousands of pounds selling football tickets he did not have on social media has been jailed for 2 years and 11 months after an investigation by the Met Police.
Hussayn Hirani, 24, pleaded guilty to 28 counts of fraud by false representation at Harrow Crown Court last Thursday.
Hirani was taking images of real football tickets posted by other users on social media, and advertising them for sale on Twitter.
Once sold, victims would be asked to make payment into bank accounts belonging to friends and associates of Hirani. The cash would be then be withdrawn at a later date and handed back to him. No tickets were ever sent to the buyers.
Met Police and Action Fraud working in partnership
Hirani was arrested after a lengthy investigation was carried out by the Met’s Fraud and Linked Crime Online (FALCON) that used Action Fraud reports to link the fraudster to other crimes. Met Police detectives also discovered that Hirani sold fake Wimbledon and concert tickets. He defrauded his victims out of more than £9,000.
Detective Constable Paul Allgood from FALCON said: “This was a lengthy and complex investigation, involving dozens of victims. Hirani betrayed the trust of all of these people and made a living out of lying. He arranged for the profit he made from these crimes to go into the bank accounts of his friends and associates in order to distance himself from the offending.
“FALCON and Action Fraud worked in a close partnership to bring Hirani to justice. I would strongly discourage members of the public from allowing anyone to access or use their bank accounts. You should never disclose personal bank details unless for a legitimate purpose, to an authorised individual or organisation. I would also encourage the public to take extra care when purchasing goods through social media.”
To protect yourself you should only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, the promoter, an official agent or a well-known and reputable ticket exchange site.
For more advice on ticket fraud, Get Safe Online have launched an awareness campaign this month with tips on how to safeguard yourself.
Read more on the Met Police website.
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