Financial Crime World

Title: Disguised Director of Australian Security Firm at the Heart of Alleged $1.7 Million Scam

Suspicious Interview with Muhammad Ali Waheed

  • A disguised Muhammad Ali Waheed, director of Victorian company Supercheap Security, raised suspicion during a virtual meeting with the ABC.
  • He wore a surgical mask, aviator sunglasses, and an oversized hoodie, claiming to be in the Middle East.

Supercheap Security Under Investigation

  • Supercheap Security is under investigation by Victoria Police for alleged scams that have defrauded nine individuals of almost $1.7 million.
  • The company opened a new bank account in April 2022, believed to have been instrumental in moving funds offshore.

Victim’s Heartbreaking Story

  • Jo O’Brien, one of the victims, lost a significant portion of her $500,000 divorce settlement to the scam.
  • She believed she was making a secure investment with financial powerhouse AMP but was instead communicating with scammers.
  • Her funds were transferred into an Australian bank account belonging to Supercheap Security.

Criminal Use of Australian Corporations

  • Australian companies, according to a former police investigator Neil Jeans, serve as the perfect cover for criminal activities.
  • No one has been successfully prosecuted despite reports from victims.

Hassan Mehdi and Supercheap Security

  • The shell company, Supercheap Security, was registered in 2021 by an Australian-based Pakistani man, Hassan Mehdi.
  • Officially listed business address was a suburban home in regional Victoria, and the website is no longer online.

Unraveling the Mystery: Control of Supercheap Security’s Bank Account

  • Controversy surrounds who was actually in control of Supercheap Security’s bank account during the scam.
  • Hassan Mehdi sold the company but did not resign until three months later.

Confronting the Scammer

  • Jo O’Brien’s house call to confront Hassan Mehdi at his home may have alerted the scammers to the discovery.
  • They possibly altered their paperwork as a result, making the investigation more complicated.

Hassan Mehdi’s Response

  • Hassan Mehdi maintains no involvement in the investment scam nor the money transfers when approached for comment.
  • Charges against him were later dropped on legal advice.

Ongoing Investigation

  • Officials continue investigating the case to establish who was responsible for the criminal activity and whether they were in the country at the time.