Police are appealing for potential victims of a fraudulent car salesman, Ravinder Randhawa, who was sentenced in 2021 for multiple offences including fraud and money laundering. The South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) encourages anyone affected to come forward, as there may be an opportunity to recover some of the lost funds.
Randhawa operated a sophisticated scam through a fake website that falsely represented luxury car sales from nonexistent showrooms. Customers from across the UK, including Gloucestershire, paid substantial sums for high-end vehicles such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Range Rover models. However, these cars were never delivered, and when buyers attempted to collect them, they realised the vehicles did not exist.
Investigations revealed that over £1 million was defrauded from more than 150 individuals. Randhawa used the stolen money to purchase luxury items and laundered funds through associates, including one Atif Shariff, who received a 20-month sentence for his involvement.
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Subsequent financial enquiries uncovered additional assets belonging to Shariff, including over £13,000 in cash, which are now subject to confiscation. This recovered money contributes to a compensation fund that has already enabled partial reimbursement for more than 30 victims.
Amanda Alldridge, Asset Confiscation and Enforcement Manager at SWROCU, commented: “We want to identify all victims connected to Randhawa’s crimes between May 2018 and February 2021. While compensation amounts may be limited compared to total losses, we are committed to returning funds to those affected.”
Individuals who believe they may have been defrauded are urged to complete a Compensation Registration Form. Furthermore, anyone with information regarding money laundering or beneficiaries of criminal activity is encouraged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
This ongoing effort reflects a determination to support victims and disrupt criminal networks exploiting innocent people.