Asylum Seeker Accused of Fathering Children and Orchestrating £220k Parcel Scam
In a startling case that has recently come to light, a former asylum seeker who claimed to be gay has been accused of fathering three children with different women while also masterminding a massive £220,000 parcel fraud scam. Saheed Azeez, 33, managed to win refugee status after allegedly facing persecution in his native Nigeria due to his sexuality. However, it seems that Azeez’s life took a different turn once he settled in the UK.
According to reports from Bolton Crown Court, Azeez played a central role in creating a network of individuals who allowed their homes to be used for receiving parcels from online sellers. These sellers would send out their products, including smartphones and cameras, without receiving payment first. Azeez would then collect the goods and sell them through his brother’s electrical shop in Wigan, taking a cut of the profits and sharing some with his fellow fraudsters using Bitcoin.
The scam, which operated between September 2020 and November 2021, resulted in 272 victims losing a total of £220,000. The fraudsters targeted individuals selling consumer electronics on platforms such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and WhatsApp. Victims were persuaded to send out their items before payment was made, and some were even pressured into sending additional money to the fraudsters in hopes of retrieving their belongings.
Police launched an investigation into Azeez’s activities after receiving reports of a suspiciously high volume of parcels being sent to addresses in north Manchester. Eventually, they tracked him down as he dropped off one of his children at primary school. As he was about to be arrested, he attempted to hide three smartphones used in the scam inside his child’s school bag, but they were discovered by a teaching assistant.
During his trial, Azeez admitted to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and plotting to possess criminal property. He is currently facing a potential prison sentence of up to six years. However, it is worth noting that Azeez identifies as bisexual and now fears deportation above all else, as he is married to the mother of his third child and has parental responsibilities for all three children.
The court also heard that Azeez’s role in the fraud was not highly sophisticated, and he received only a small percentage of the profits. His defense counsel argued that he had been pressured into participating in the scam due to past exploitation as a teenager. Despite the mitigating factors, Azeez may still face deportation.
This shocking case highlights the dangers of fraud and the devastating impact it can have on victims. It also raises questions about the asylum system and the need for robust checks to ensure that those who are granted refugee status are deserving of such protection. As Azeez’s sentencing approaches, the court will have to carefully consider the appropriate sentence while taking into account the multiple aspects of his complex personal circumstances.
