Conman nets £8.5m in sham London property sales
Massive Property Scam Uncovered
Anopkumar Maudhoo, 45, from Wapping, pulled off a jaw-dropping £8.5 million property scam by selling homes he didn’t own. The slick fraudster duped investors with fake deeds, false identities, and forged documents. At Southwark Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to 76 charges including fraud, money laundering, and possession of fake ID.
Maudhoo masqueraded as a big-shot property developer with “exclusive” access to repossessed and redevelopment sites across North London, Hertfordshire, and Essex. Using aliases like Vincent Lebeouf and Yusef Khan, he hoodwinked buyers into shelling out cash for properties that were never for sale.
Lavish Lifestyle Fueled by Crime
With the stolen loot, Maudhoo splashed out on 19 luxury cars — Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins — plus a speedboat and several posh pads. Cops also found over 20 personalised number plates linked to his various aliases.
When victims became suspicious, he played a slick game of cat and mouse. Using burner phones and messaging apps, he faked texts posing as lawyers and officials to stall deals, blaming “bank delays” and “loan hold-ups.”
Digital Trail Reveals Web of Lies
Police raids uncovered a trove of evidence: 14 sets of forged IDs from multiple nationalities and £15,000 in cash. Investigators estimate Maudhoo sold at least 75 bogus properties since 2021. Shockingly, he was due to be deported to Mauritius back in 2010, but slipped under the radar and kept conning for years.
Victims Face Devastating Losses
“The scale of Maudhoo’s offending is truly shocking,” said Detective Inspector Damian Barlow. “He didn’t care who he ruined — it was all about funding his lavish lifestyle.”
Several victims lost over £1 million each, with many fearing they’ll never recover. Police are now seizing Maudhoo’s assets to try and get some cash back for those he scammed.
Sentencing Looms
Maudhoo is set to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, 30 June 2025. Authorities warn anyone buying property to be extra vigilant and double-check sellers before handing over hard-earned cash.
If you suspect you’ve been scammed, contact Action Fraud or your local police immediately.
