Fraudster blew £175,000 on Man City winger Riyad Mahrez’s bank card – and star took 5 WEEKS to notice


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z71Yu0SQEVc

A CROOKED forklift driver blew more than £175,000 on a bank card belonging to Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez.

Sharif Mohamed, 32, spent £20,000 of the winger’s money partying and on designer clothes in Ibiza.

Mahrez failed to realise for more than a month that a fraudster had blown the money.

The £200,000-a-week star took nearly five weeks to block the card Mohamed had got hold of to enjoy a taste of the high life

In that time, Mohamed burned through £20,000 partying in Ibiza.

He guzzled champagne at trendy beach bars and blew thousands buying designer clothes from boutiques on the holiday island.

In the UK, his spree also included a splurge in a casino — as well as more modest outings to Nando’s, KFC and Greggs.

But the spending — equivalent to less than one week’s pay for the Algeria international — went unnoticed for more than a month.

Commenting on the case, former Met Det Chief Insp Mick Neville said: “The most amazing thing is that someone can blow £175,000 on a bank card without the loser even realising.”

The fraud, totalling £175,830, took place in 2017 while Mahrez, 29, was playing for Leicester City.

A caller posing as the Etihad Stadium favourite phoned Barclays bank to order a new card in his name. Mohamed said that he was working on behalf of crooked bank staff who allowed him to use the card — but he produced no evidence to back up his claim.

He travelled from his home in East London to Leicester to withdraw cash from ATMs to avoid raising suspicion.

Prosecutor Alex Matthews said he admitted going on a trip to Ibiza where, apart from blowing thousands on champagne in bars, he visited designer boutiques.

In one, he paid £1,400 for a pair of Armani jeans. Ms Matthews added: “He spent £900 in one and £600 in the other — and that’s just one night in Ibiza.”

His spending on the trip included the flights, accommodation in the smart Shangri—La hotel and meals at the upmarket Edward John Lucas restaurant.

Mohamed denied suggestions he had made a second trip to Ibiza or that he had used the card during another break in the Spanish region of Murcia.

It was nearly five weeks before the card was stopped. Spending in the UK included a trip to Aspers Casino in the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre in London.

His barrister, Daniel Higgins, appealed for Mohamed, from East Ham, to be given a suspended sentence, saying he had made little from the fraud.

He said: “In terms of personal benefit he can’t exactly qualify. At least he had a very nice holiday and other benefits.

“One of the difficulties is that this was during a period of his life when he was drinking and taking drugs and his ability to recall in detail is rather limited.”

But after listening agog to the spending, Judge Laurie West-Knights, QC, was unconvinced.

He said: “I need to resolve whether he has come clean. If he is deceiving me at this stage, there is only one place he can go.”

Mohamed admitted one charge of fraud at Snaresbrook crown court. He was bailed ahead of sentencing on February 25. He previously received a suspended sentence for a hotel booking scam and was jailed for 45 months in 2009 for robbery.

But he now claims to be married and living “a modest life”.

Mr Neville was left puzzled by the case, saying: “Why on earth would an elite footballer be spending at fast food joints and Britain’s favourite steak bake supplier?

“Banks are normally very quick off the mark to spot unusual spending but if the sums were low then it probably wouldn’t flag up.”

Source
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/14013094/crook-blew-175000-manchester-riyad-mahrezs-card/

Am I the only one who doesn't watch football?


I can't relate to the terms.

at least the guy enjoy small lol

Jesus I wish .....

Sharp one, na both of us dey play the ball so we suppose enjoy the money together.

See the scammer head like table tennis egg Him see that kind money and him no use am do better thing like investing Ewu

Ok

chai....if naija yahoo boy jam that card ehh..

[img]https://media./images/5a1a5012fc7455e43c6dc8c01ba79930/tenor.gif[/img]

Why is it always mahrez that dey steal from or was he a thief in his past life?

Too much money

You can't try that with me. I know my acct balance to the last kobo

Gawdd.. European footballers money too Long

They will get him.

Wow

See the man head like Abuja yam

ed

chatinent:
Am I the only one who doesn't watch football?


I can't relate to the terms.

you miss a lots dude

The money is too much, that was why he didn't notice in time.

Really!

Monkey dey work, Baboon dey chop.
Well, the money is peanuts to the Algerian and Man city Star.

Just imagine, the money 175k was too much for the fraudster to spend.

shey na nigerian?

Such a rare thing to find a disciplined and intelligent thief!... It is indeed a curse to steal!

Over 90% of cyber criminals are even dumber than the gullible individuals they defraud! SMH!!!

the guy try o

lol

Naija still dey learn.

femi4:
Too much money

You can't try that with me. I know my acct balance to the last kobo

you dey poor nah. Why wouldn't you notice.