A Hayes man has been jailed for defrauding a woman of her life savings in a romance scam.
Qaiser Saeed, appeared at Isleworth Crown Court last Tuesday (7 September) where he was sentenced to three years imprisonment for fraud by false representation.
He was previously found guilty of the offence by a jury at Barbican Nightingale Court on 3 September 2020.
During trial, the court heard how in May 2013 Saeed had befriended a 39-year-old woman via an online dating site.
Over the course of around four months, he constructed a web of lies including his claims that he was a single man who owned his own company.
He also claimed that his bank account had been frozen due to him being a victim of fraud and, taking advantage of the victim’s trusting nature, deceived her into transferring large sums of money into his account that he claimed would pay his employees’ wages until his account was unfrozen.
In reality, Saeed was a married man with children who worked as a security guard.
The money sent to him by the victim totalled £47,650.
Police arrested him on 10th April 2014 on suspicion of fraud. Following his arrest he was released on police bail pending further enquiries.
On 19th April 2014 he breached his bail conditions and fled the country to Pakistan in an attempt to evade justice.
Five years later, on 30th September 2019, he brazenly flew into Heathrow on a student Visa. To his surprise he was arrested at the airport on suspicion of fraud and was charged the following day with fraud by false representation.
Detective Sergeant James Harbour, said: “Qaiser Saeed wilfully deceived the victim telling lie upon lie in order to deceive her into parting with her money.
“Scammers, such as Saeed, are skilled liars who weave a complex web of falsehoods in order to manipulate vulnerable or trusting people, playing on their emotions before taking their money under false pretences.
“Anyone can fall victim, regardless of age or gender. It is not unusual for victims to feel too embarrassed to tell police or a trusted person, or they may continue to believe that the suspect is telling them the truth as the reality of being scammed by someone they cared about is too difficult to contemplate.
“I urge anyone who has fallen victim to this type of fraud to get in touch with police straight away. There is nothing to be embarrassed about and you will be supported by officers who understand how this despicable crime works and will support you.”
