Anopkumar Maudhoo, 45, from Wapping, used a number of aliases such as ‘Vincent Lebeouf’ to carry out large-scale conveyancing fraud which offered investment opportunities in the purchase of supposedly repossessed properties, or the redevelopment of plots of land.
However, in reality the properties were not subject to repossession proceedings and the genuine owners were unaware of the fraudulent sales.
The scam had earned him in excess of £8.5 million, which he spent on a lavish lifestyle that included a number of properties, a speedboat and 19 high-value cars that included Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins.
He also amassed a collection of more than 20 personalised number plates which referenced his identities.
Anopkumar Maudhoo (Image: ROCU) Evidence uncovered by investigators suggested he had orchestrated the illicit sale of 75 buildings or development plots since 2021, with victims located across North London, Hertfordshire and Essex.
More than £15,000 in cash was retrieved during the warrants, along with 14 sets of false identity documents for several aliases of different nationalities. Digital devices were also found, which helped investigators uncover a vast, complex and highly organised scheme.
It was found that Maudhoo had used companies in his control to create the impression he had unique access to repossessed and liquidated properties and was able to expedite their onward sale.
When victims raised concerns, he would exchange messages with himself using different aliases and devices, pretending to be a point of escalation within his business or a contact in the planning or conveyancing process.
He also used excuses such as ‘waiting for bridging loans to come through’ or blaming delays with banks to bide himself more time.
Detectives found a plethora of other false names including Pascal Burns, Yusef Khan, and Vicenzo Conte, also discovering that he had been due to be deported to Mauritius in 2010.
At the hearing at Southwark Crown Court last Wednesday, Maudhoo admitted 76 offences including fraud, money laundering and possession of false identity documents.
He is due to appear before the same court for sentencing on Monday, June 30.
“Put simply, he was purely focussed on taking victims’ cash and using it to fund his lavish lifestyle.
“Our investigation has involved hours and hours of work as our teams picked through Maudhoo’s lies and attempted coverups.
“Victims in this case have lost significant sums of money, in some cases in excess of a million pounds, and we are continuing to work to ensure all of his assets are located, brought under police control, and used to repay those who Maudhoo targeted.”
