Asian fraudsters targeting own community in UK

London, June 1 (ANI): Hundreds of South Asians are being lured into bogus investment opportunities by professional Asian fraudsters.

Scotland Yard estimates hundreds, if not thousands of people from the Asian community are being targeted in what they describe as a multimillion-pound scam in which victims have lost their entire life savings.

Take the example of Ria Sawar. She says that she and her family had chosen a luxury villa in the heart of Dubai, with a private pool, gym and a grand balcony overlooking the sea and sand.he man who pitched the property to her made it sound like the ultimate holiday getaway and it seemed quite affordable.

"He just disappeared," the BBC quoted Sawar, as saying.

"The retailer told me he would give me a discount on whatever I chose from the brochure. It was all so exciting, the property I had picked out was everything I had ever wanted," he said.awar transferred more than 50,000-pounds to a man from a professional property company, only to realise later she had been conned.

'It all seemed so legitimate. What I find the most shocking is that someone from my own community had let me down," Sawar, a victim of the fraudsters, said.

Another victim, Mansoor Ahmed, from north London, thought he was securing the future of his family when he took up his investment opportunity.

"My savings were just sitting in the bank and I thought it would be good idea to invest them wisely. An investor promised to make me healthy returns that were compliant with Shariah law. I trusted him. He was well known in the community - a practising Muslim. He went to the mosque and was heavily involved in Muslim organisations. I have to start all over again now. I have two daughters that I have to put through school, I'm so worried," he said.

Detective Chief Inspector Robin Cross, who is the head of the fraud squad at the Metropolitan Police, said people need to be cautious, do their research and seek professional advice before exchanging any money.

"It has become clear to us that professional fraudsters are preying on people from their own community and scamming them through all sorts of investment opportunities. This is a very sophisticated fraud," he said. (ANI)