Thief who stole £870,000 from Kensington’s five-star Royal Garden Hotel sentenced to jail for cunning crime

Zaheer Abbas, a fraudster, has been sentenced to seven years and 10 months in prison for stealing nearly £870,000 from a luxury hotel in central London. Abbas used manipulation and deceit to open a bogus business bank account in the name of the Royal Garden in Kensington. He gained access to the hotel’s payment service and changed its banking details to the fraudulent account he created. To further deceive suppliers, Abbas set up fake landline numbers with recorded greetings to mimic the hotel’s switchboard and his fake bank, tricking payment departments into talking to him when they contacted these numbers to verify changes.

Once the bank account of the Royal Garden was altered, Abbas was able to divert approximately £867,000 in funds between May and June 2023. The scam was discovered when the hotel did not receive expected payments, leading to police involvement. Abbas also impersonated a solicitor on false documents to verify his identity. He transferred stolen money to various destinations, paid for two years’ rent on a property, and purchased a new Audi. Fortunately, around £657,404 has been recovered and returned to the Royal Garden following Abbas’s arrest.

Abbas pleaded guilty to 12 counts of fraud over a nine-month period between January and September 2023 at Isleworth Crown Court. Detective Constable Daniel Jordan of the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit, a specialist police team funded by the banking industry, highlighted Abbas’s callous disregard for the harm he caused to the hotel and its employees. Jordan emphasized that Abbas’s actions put the business in a vulnerable position, with no concern for the serious consequences of his crimes. He commended the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and financial institutions in identifying Abbas and putting an end to his criminal activities. The case serves as a warning to others attempting to profit from fraud, demonstrating that they will be caught and brought to justice.

The deception carried out by Abbas underscores the need for vigilance and security measures to protect businesses from financial crimes. Fraudsters like Abbas exploit vulnerabilities in payment systems and banking procedures to carry out elaborate schemes for personal gain. The case serves as a reminder for organizations to implement robust internal controls, conduct regular audits, and verify the identity of individuals making significant changes to financial accounts. By remaining vigilant and collaborating with law enforcement and industry partners, businesses can mitigate the risk of falling victim to sophisticated fraud schemes.

The sentencing of Zaheer Abbas sends a strong message to individuals contemplating fraudulent activities for financial gain. The severe consequences faced by Abbas highlight the legal repercussions and reputational damage that come with committing fraud. Law enforcement agencies, backed by industry support, will actively investigate and prosecute individuals involved in financial crimes to protect businesses and the wider community from harm. The successful resolution of this case demonstrates the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between the police and the banking sector in combating fraudulent activities and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.

Overall, Zaheer Abbas’s elaborate fraud scheme, involving manipulation and deceit, resulted in significant financial losses and disruptions for a luxury hotel in central London. His actions demonstrate the importance of implementing robust security measures to safeguard businesses from fraudulent activities. The successful investigation and prosecution of Abbas by the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit serve as a warning to potential fraudsters that they will be caught and brought to justice for their crimes. Businesses must remain vigilant and proactive in deterring and detecting fraud to protect their assets and reputation.