Haroon Zaman hacked into victims’ social media accounts and impersonated them to advertise fraudulent cryptocurrency alternatives
A Cardiff man stole greater than £124,000 from over a dozen victims by operating a cryptocurrency funding rip-off on social media, a courtroom has heard. Between January 2021 and June 2023 Haroon Zaman hacked into his victims’ social media accounts and impersonated them on-line.
He then used these compromised accounts to advertise fraudulent cryptocurrency “funding alternatives” to family and friends of the people he hacked.
Victims had been persuaded to switch funds on the promise of threat‑free returns. In actuality, no investments existed, and the 23-year-old defendant stole a complete of £124,479 from 17 identified victims.
Zaman’s crimes got here to gentle following an investigation by the cyber crime crew within the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), who labored in partnership with South Wales Police.
An investigating officer mentioned Zaman confirmed a “full disregard for the injury he triggered” by way of the rip-off. Zaman pleaded responsible to 17 counts of fraud by false illustration at a listening to on September 10.
Zaman, of Holmesdale Road, Grangetown, Cardiff, was sentenced to a few years and eight months’ imprisonment at Studying Crown Courtroom on Wednesday, December 17.
Detective Constable Alex Sarakinis, from SEROCU’s Cyber Crime crew, mentioned after sentencing: “Zaman exploited the belief that victims’ buddies and followers positioned in them, displaying a whole disregard for the injury triggered.
“By hijacking social media accounts, he deceived folks into believing they had been investing safely, when actually he was stealing their cash.
“Thanks to shut partnership working with South Wales Police, we had been capable of uncover the dimensions of his offending and guarantee he has now been introduced earlier than the courts.”
