Arfan Choudry, a 49-year-old conman, was jailed for 24 weeks after preying on elderly residents in Nottinghamshire through a taxi fare scam. Between October 2022 and January 2023, Choudry targeted vulnerable pensioners in areas including Basford, Wollaton, the Arboretum, and Forest Fields.
Choudry used sob stories about hospital stays and illness to gain sympathy from his victims. He begged for cash to pay for taxi fares, promising to repay the debts, but never did. Most victims were over 70 years old and handed over amounts ranging from £19 to £40.
The scam was uncovered by plain-clothes officers from Operation Reacher, who caught Choudry red-handed on 3 February while he was homeless and on the run. He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 6 February facing 10 fraud charges.
Sergeant Mark Westlake of Radford City Operation Reacher praised his team’s efforts, saying, “Thanks to my team’s patience and stealth, we arrested Choudry without him realising we were hunting him. This is exactly what Operation Reacher was set up for — to protect the community from predators like him.”
He added, “No one should have their hard-earned cash stolen, especially vulnerable people. I want to thank the victims for their courage in coming forward and urge anyone suffering fraud to report it.”
Members of the public are encouraged to report fraud by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In emergencies, dial 999. For cybercrime, visit www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
Originally published by UKNIP.
