Key Points
- Nadia Simelane, 34, of Trafalgar Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering and was jailed for two years, suspended for two years and also made to do 150 hours of community work without pay.
- A further three other defendants were jailed at Newcastle Crown Court following an investigation into courier fraud and money laundering activities.
- Saif Hussain, 31, of Gilpin View, Leeds, is now facing four years and three months in jail for his conviction of conspiracy to defraud.
- Brendan Mbara, 27, of Middleton Little Road, Allerton Bywater, Castleford, has received a jail term of three years and 10 months on his conviction for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.
- Faith Moyo, 21, of Gamblehill Drive, Bramley, received the same sentence as Nadia Simelane – two years suspended for two years and 150 hours of community work without pay.
- As per the police statement, the fraud involved people being contacted by persons pretending to be bank staff or the police and were asked to hand over bank cards, PIN numbers, mobile phones or cash to the courier.
- According to NEROCU, the losses caused by this fraud operation amounted to more than £250,000.
Ashton-under-Lyne (Manchester Mirror) October 7, 2026 — A woman from Tameside has been sentenced after police said they dismantled a UK-wide courier fraud network that caused victims to lose more than £250,000.
Nadia Simelane, 34, of Trafalgar Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, she was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work at Newcastle Crown Court.
The case followed an investigation by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit into what police described as a significant fraud and money laundering operation. NEROCU said the scheme involved fraudsters contacting victims while pretending to be from their banks or police forces, then arranging for couriers to collect bank cards, PIN numbers, mobile phones and other valuables.
What did the fraudsters do?
According to NEROCU, the fraud began with a report made last August by an elderly man who had been contacted by someone he believed represented his bank. The caller claimed there had been suspicious activity on his account and told him that a courier would attend his home to collect his bank cards, PIN and mobile phone.
The cards were then used to make substantial cash withdrawals and purchases, police said. The Manchester Evening News reported that the investigation subsequently identified further victims connected to the same operation across several parts of England.
The areas where victims were identified included Newcastle, Northumberland, Cleveland, Darlington, Leeds, Colchester, Keswick, Shipley, Derbyshire and Stoke-on-Trent. NEROCU said the total amount obtained from victims exceeded £250,000.
Who was sentenced?
Four people were sentenced after all admitted the charges against them. The defendants were identified by NEROCU as Brendan Mbara, 27; Saif Hussain, 31; Nadia Simelane, 34; and Faith Moyo, 21.
As reported by The Northern Echo, Saif Hussain, of Gilpin View in Leeds, admitted conspiracy to defraud and was sentenced to four years and three months. Brendan Mbara, of Middleton Little Road in Allerton Bywater, Castleford, admitted conspiracy to defraud and money laundering and received three years and 10 months.
Nadia Simelane, of Trafalgar Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, admitted conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. She received a two-year sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
Faith Moyo, of Gamblehill Drive in Bramley, also admitted the relevant charges and received the same sentence as Ms Simelane: two years suspended for two years, with 150 hours of unpaid work.
What did police recover?
During the investigation, officers said they carried out searches of vehicles. NEROCU said the searches led to the recovery of thousands of pounds worth of Apple products and high-value items from Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
Police also said several mobile phones and bank cards registered in other people’s names were found. The force said these items formed part of the evidence gathered during the investigation into the alleged fraud and money laundering network.
NEROCU was supported in the investigation by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit and Greater Manchester Police. The sentencing followed guilty pleas from all four defendants at Newcastle Crown Court.
Why is courier fraud dangerous?
Courier fraud typically involves a caller claiming to be from a bank, police force or another trusted organisation. The caller may say that a person’s account has been compromised, that staff are investigating fraud, or that cash, cards or other items need to be collected for evidence.
Victims may then be asked to hand over bank cards, PIN numbers, cash, jewellery, mobile phones or other valuables to someone who arrives at their home. Police say offenders can use the material or information obtained to withdraw money, make purchases or commit further fraud.
Detective Constable Sophie Snowdon of NEROCU said courier fraud was a “reprehensible” crime that often targeted elderly and vulnerable people. Her comments were reported by the Manchester Evening News.
What did police say?
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Detective Constable Sophie Snowdon said:
“Courier Fraud is a reprehensible crime that typically targets the elderly and the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
She added that the case represented “only the latest decisive action” taken against criminals attempting to carry out and manage fraud operations in the area.
NEROCU said the investigation demonstrated the importance of robust policing in identifying those responsible for organised fraud. The unit said the four defendants were arrested and charged after the operation was identified.
Background of the development
Courier fraud is a form of impersonation fraud in which criminals use telephone calls to gain victims’ trust before arranging for an alleged courier to collect valuables or financial information. The scheme described by NEROCU involved callers posing as bank officials or police officers and persuading victims that urgent action was needed to protect their money.
In this case, police said an elderly man in the North East was told that suspicious activity had been identified on his bank account. He was then persuaded that a courier would collect his bank cards, PIN and mobile phone. Officers said the cards were later used for significant withdrawals and purchases.
The investigation expanded after police linked further victims across England to the same operation. NEROCU said the losses exceeded £250,000 and that officers recovered luxury goods, Apple products, mobile phones and bank cards during searches connected to the investigation.
Prediction: How this may affect residents
For older residents and their families in Tameside and across Greater Manchester, the case is likely to reinforce warnings about unexpected telephone calls claiming to come from banks or police. People may be more cautious if callers ask them to hand over cards, PINs, phones, cash or other valuables to a courier.
Banks and police forces do not normally ask members of the public to hand over bank cards, PIN numbers, cash or personal devices to a courier. Residents who receive such a request may choose to end the call, contact their bank using the number on the back of their card, and report the incident to Action Fraud or police.
The sentencing may also encourage local communities to discuss fraud prevention with elderly relatives, neighbours and vulnerable people. The involvement of Greater Manchester Police in the investigation indicates that authorities continue to treat courier fraud as an organised-crime issue affecting victims beyond the North East.
