Perth fraudster has to wait

Feb 26 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A PERTH man who conned a former flatmate out of around £20,000 after stealing his identity will learn his fate on March 31.

Kamran Farooq (34) shared a flat in Tay Street with his friend Mohammed Siddiqui, until he changed jobs and went to London.

The accused opened an account in Mr Siddiqui’s name at the Royal Bank of Scotland and paid in a £2200 cheque that had arrived for his former flatmate.

Farooq also used utility bills and bank statements to get a Virgin Money credit card and use it beyond its £6000 limit.

And, in a further scam, he opened a First Direct bank account, got another credit card and also obtained an £11,000-plus loan from them.

Solicitor Linda Clark said her client had already re-paid £19,000 and had brought another cheque with him to Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Farooq admitted the three fraud offences, which took place at his flat between August 26, 2007, and August 13, 2008.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said paying back the money would work in his favour when it came to sentencing.