BF2S Forums Doc loses £350k in net scam

The Sun wrote:

A TOP eye surgeon was duped by an internet fraudster — and handed him a staggering £350,000.
Consultant Fawzia Ashkanani gave the massive sum to Nigerian Chinaenye Mokelu after he promised her a slice of his “$300million fortune”.

Dr Ashkanani, of Dumfries, even met Mokelu in London, where the conman showed her a suitcase full of FAKE cash.

Kuwaiti-born Dr Ashkanani — a consultant at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary — fell for a phishing spam email Mokelu sent to UK bank account holders asking for help in transfering the nine-figure sum from Nigeria to Britain.

Prosecutor Andrew Jackson told a court: “He said he needed someone who had a bank account in the UK to facilitate a bank-to-bank transfer.


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“Unfortunately for her, she replied to the email.

“During the course of a number of subsequent emails and telephone calls the victim was asked to transfer money into two accounts controlled by the defendant.”

Mokelu, 44, of Grays, Essex, swindled £350,000 from Dr Ashkanani, of which only £30,000 has been traced by cops.

He had used that to to pay off his mortgage and splash out on luxuries.


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The dad-of-two was yesterday told at Basildon Crown Court that he faces a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and having a fake passport.

Karl Volz, defending, said: “He says he was a very trusted lieutenant in this conspiracy.

“There are various other names involved in this case who have not been tracked down by the prosecution.”

Recorder Jeffrey Yearwood told Mokelu: “Clearly he is a very serious player as far as this is concerned. This defendant is plainly in no doubt that a significant custodial sentence is the only option.”

Mokelu was remanded in custody until June for the preparation of pre-sentencing reports.