Detectives are urging house buyers to remain vigilant following a fraud case in which a woman purchasing a property was conned into transferring over £70,000 to a criminal gang using a Gravesend bank account. The incident highlights the dangers of property fraud and the sophisticated tactics employed by scammers.
On April 15, 2021, a woman buying a property in Hertfordshire received an email from someone claiming to be from her conveyancing solicitor’s office. The message instructed her to transfer funds to a bank account different from the one she had initially received. When she queried the change, she was informed that the company had two separate accounts. Trusting this response, she authorised the transfer of £70,500 from her bank account.
It was later discovered that the email was part of an elaborate fraud scheme, and the woman reported the incident to the police.
Detectives from Kent Police’s Economic Crime Unit launched an investigation, tracing the money to a business account controlled by Kimberley Abdul. Within days, the funds were transferred to another account belonging to Abdul, and investigators found she had used more than £900 of the stolen money for personal purchases.
Kimberley Abdul, aged 36 and residing in Darnley Road, Gravesend, was arrested on July 26, 2021. She was subsequently charged with concealing, transferring, or removing criminal property. Abdul appeared at Woolwich Crown Court and, on September 23, 2024, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 100 hours of unpaid work.
Detective Constable Lee Preston commented on the case, saying, “We have seen this type of case in the past where criminal gangs gain knowledge of an impending house purchase and then email victims to persuade them to send the money directly into an account controlled by a third party. That account holder is aware it is a scam and is allowed to keep some of the funds before moving the rest of the money to those who organised the fraud.
Preston added, “These crimes can involve substantial amounts of money, and the loss can be devastating to the victim. While Abdul played a relatively minor part, her role was crucial in ensuring the gang members could remain anonymous. She should be thoroughly ashamed of her actions.
In this case, the victim was able to recover her funds in full from her bank. However, police warn this incident serves as a reminder to anyone involved in large money transfers to exercise caution. If you receive an email or phone call asking you to send cash to a different account from the one you expected, end the interaction and contact the relevant organisation using a trusted phone number to verify,” Preston advised.
Anyone who suspects they may be a victim of fraud is encouraged to report the matter to Kent Police online or by calling 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, you can contact Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, at 0800 555 111. Visit their respective websites for more information.
