Two people who scammed victims out of over £24,000 have been sentenced.
Two people who traded fraudulently through their business and scammed victims out of over £24,000 have been sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court (Friday 3 May).
After a lengthy and protracted investigation into the activities of a number of Letting agencies, the two defendants Sultana Akther, (40), of Spencer Road, Rainham and Skeena Noor Rashid, (27), of Herold Mugford Terrace, Pearl Close, Beckton, pleaded guilty to Fraudulent Trading.
This was following numerous complaints linked to Signature London Ltd and Signature London Group Ltd for duping prospective tenants, landlords and existing tenants.
Victims had rent deposits collected and never returned, holding funds stolen and – in the case of landlords – collected rents not being transferred into their accounts.
Akther and Rashid defrauded victims of at least £24,000 through a range of letting and rental scams.
The sentences given were as follows:
- Sultana Akther – 14 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months concurrent for each indictment and fined £2,000.
- Skeena Noor Rashid – 24 months community order (80 hours of unpaid work included).
The defendants were prosecuted following an investigation led by the National Trading Standards Regional Investigations Team, supported by officers from Barking and Dagenham Council.
Cllr Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement & Community Safety, said:
“This case just goes to show that people who engage in criminal activity can run but they cannot hide.
“The accused may have thought they had a fool proof scam which would have made it difficult or impossible for people affected to recover their money. I want to thank our Trading Standards officers for sticking with it and ensuring justice is served.”
Trish Burls, Chair of the NTS Tri Regional Investigation Team said:
“Taking advantage of first-time buyers, exploiting homeowners’ desires to move and disrupting the everyday practice of reputable landlords demonstrates the utter disregard the defendants had for the wellbeing of others.
“We are pleased to have been able to provide support to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Trading Standards team with this long-standing case.
“This investigation highlights the value of partnership work between regional and local Trading Standards officers, and I hope that today’s result sends out a clear message that this type of offending will not be tolerated.”
Notes to Editors
The National Trading Standards Board funds the Regional Investigation Teams that target rogue trading, doorstep crime and scams, providing support across England and Wales through eight regionally based teams
About the National Trading Standards Board
- The National Trading Standards Board is a group of senior and experienced local government heads of trading standards, representing all trading standards services across England and Wales. The Board has been set up by the Government as part of changes to the consumer protection landscape and an enhanced role for trading standards.
- The National Trading Standards Board provides leadership influence, support and resources to help combat consumer and business detriment locally, regionally and nationally.
- The National Trading Standards Board funds the Regional Investigation Teams that target rogue trading, doorstep crime and scams, providing support across England and Wales through eight regionally based teams:
- Central England Trading Standards Authorities (CeNTSA)
- North East Trading Standards Authorities (NETSA)
- Trading Standards East Midlands (TSEM)
- Trading Standards North West (TSNW)
- Tri Region Regional Investigations Team, on behalf of Trading Standards South East Ltd (TSSEL), East of England Trading Standards Association (EETSA) and London Trading Standards (LTS)
- Trading Standards Partnership South West (SWERCOTS)
- Yorkshire and Humber Trading Standards Group (YAHTSG) and
- Wales Heads of Trading Standards (WHoTS)
There are separate arrangements in place in Scotland.