A sophisticated conman who amassed a fortune of over £8.5 million by “selling” homes he didn’t own has admitted to more than 70 offences after funding a lavish lifestyle with the proceeds of his crimes.
Anopkumar Maudhoo, 45, of Wapping, orchestrated one of the most elaborate conveyancing scams seen in recent years, using multiple false identities and fake documents to dupe investors into buying repossessed or redeveloped properties that were never actually for sale.
Among the 76 charges he admitted at Southwark Crown Court last Wednesday were counts of fraud, money laundering, and possession of false identity documents.
Maudhoo—who operated under aliases including Vincent Lebeouf, Pascal Burns, Yusef Khan, and Vicenzo Conte—posed as a property developer with exclusive access to distressed assets. His victims were lured into seemingly legitimate property transactions involving buildings or plots across North London, Hertfordshire, and Essex.
But as Detective Inspector Damian Barlow from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) explained, “The scale of Maudhoo’s offending is truly shocking. He paid absolutely no regard to those he defrauded. Put simply, he was purely focused on taking victims’ cash to fund his lavish lifestyle.”
Lavish Spending and Elaborate Lies
Maudhoo used the funds to purchase 19 high-value cars—including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Aston Martins—as well as a speedboat and several luxury properties. Investigators also uncovered a collection of more than 20 personalised number plates, with references to his various aliases.
When victims grew suspicious, Maudhoo used burner phones and messaging apps to text himself while impersonating fake colleagues, lawyers, or government contacts. He also falsely blamed bridging loan delays and banking issues to stall transactions and mislead buyers.
A Network of Lies and False Documents
Evidence from digital devices, recovered during coordinated police raids, helped officers uncover a vast web of falsehoods. They also found 14 sets of forged identity documents from different nationalities and over £15,000 in cash. In total, Maudhoo is believed to have fraudulently “sold” at least 75 properties or development plots since 2021.
Southwark Crown Court heard that Maudhoo had even been scheduled for deportation to Mauritius in 2010, raising further questions about how he remained under the radar for so long.
Victims Left Financially Devastated
Detectives say several victims lost more than £1 million each, with many fearing they will never fully recover financially. Investigators are now working to seize and liquidate Maudhoo’s assets in hopes of recovering money for the victims.
DI Barlow added: “Our teams have spent countless hours picking apart Maudhoo’s lies. We are doing everything possible to locate and repurpose his seized assets to compensate the victims he ruthlessly targeted.”
Sentencing Ahead
Maudhoo will return to Southwark Crown Court for sentencing on Monday, 30 June 2025.
The case stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of fraudulent property schemes, and police have urged prospective investors to verify sellers and conduct thorough due diligence before entering into property transactions.
Anyone who believes they may have been affected by similar scams is encouraged to contact Action Fraud or their local police force.
