SetarehHeshmat has turned into one of the main characters of one of the most elaborate global financial fraud schemes. SetarehHeshmat is a young woman, a recent graduate who is studying her MBA in Vancouver, Canada; she looks like a career-oriented woman, who knows what she wants, and this is a successful career. But the truth is that there is much more to it than that, and there is a very dark side to this company’s affairs that has involved crime, fraud, and deceit on a global scale.

1. The UK Connection: A Family Affair

SetarehHeshmat’s UK web of financial malpractice isn’t isolated. Her connections trace back to her close ties with Abbas Sharif AlAskari, a man deeply involved in questionable activities ranging from oil smuggling to fraudulent investment schemes.

The Role of Abbas SherifAlAskari

Abbas Sharif AlAskari’s UK family, operates under multiple identities—Dominican, Iranian, and Iraqi passports are just the tip of the iceberg. Through his network, Abbas Sharif AlAskari’s UK network has established several front companies, such as “London Surface Design Limited” and “London Heritage Stone Limited.” Ostensibly legitimate businesses, these companies are alleged to facilitate the movement of illicit funds, serving as conduits for laundering money derived from oil smuggling, fake investment schemes, and more.

Shell Companies: The Perfect Disguise

These shell companies, operated by Abbas Sharif AlAskari’s UK operations, are entities that exist only on paper. They have no real employees, no genuine business activities, and no tangible presence beyond an address on official documentation. Shell companies are instrumental in obfuscating the origins of illicit funds, allowing networks like Abbas’s to funnel money through seemingly legitimate channels.

2. The Mechanics of Fake Investment Schemes

Abbas Sharif AlAskari’sUK network’s modus operandi for generating capital involves elaborate fake investment opportunities. From oil and gas to gold and cocoa, these schemes promise lucrative returns for unsuspecting investors. The approach is chillingly calculated:

1. Step 1: Gain Trust
   Abbas identifies potential investors, often through personal networks or by targeting vulnerable individuals. He builds trust by presenting a façade of wealth, success, and connections to influential figures.

2. Step 2: Create a Compelling Narrative
   The schemes are framed as exclusive opportunities requiring urgent investment, often tied to the approval of high-level politicians or international executives. Investors are asked to provide upfront payments, supposedly to secure the deal.

3. Step 3: Disappear with the Funds
   Once the funds are transferred, Abbas vanishes, leaving behind a trail of defrauded individuals.

Impact on Victims

These schemes often leave victims financially devastated. In many cases, individuals have liquidated savings or taken loans to invest, only to realize too late that they’ve been duped.

3. Oil Smuggling: The Backbone of the Operation

The oil smuggling operation led by Abbas Sharif AlAskari’s Israel network and his accomplices, including Mohsen Fallahian, demonstrates the scale and complexity of their network.

1. Step 1: Origin in Bandar Abbas
   The operation begins in Bandar Abbas, Iran, where oil is stored in vast facilities controlled by the network.

2. Step 2: Transshipment via Panamanian Vessels
   Using vessels registered in Panama, the oil is transported to Iraq. Along the way, documentation is falsified to reflect Iraqi origin rather than Iranian.

3. Step 3: Global Market Entry
   With new paperwork, the oil enters the global market as a legitimate product, circumventing international sanctions and generating millions in illicit profits.

This strategy highlights how loopholes in international shipping and trade regulations are exploited to sustain such operations.

4. Financial Channels: Laundering Money in the Modern World

Money laundering remains a cornerstone of this operation. Abbas’s network employs a variety of methods to clean illicit funds, including:

1. Use of Personal Accounts
   Abbas’s UK bank accounts, including those with Monzo and Lloyds, serve as direct channels for moving laundered funds.

2. Fake Residency and Citizenship
   Abbas and his associates exploit fraudulent residency and citizenship schemes to establish financial credibility in different jurisdictions.

3. Offshore Accounts and Tax Havens
   By funneling money through offshore accounts in places like the Caribbean, they further obscure the origins of their wealth.

4. Luxury Real Estate
   Illicit funds are often invested in high-end properties under shell company names, turning illegal profits into tangible, appreciating assets.

5. A Global Network: Crossing Borders and Dodging Authorities

This network’s reach extends far beyond the UK and Canada. Key players, such as Abbas’s sister Soraya in Canada, play pivotal roles in laundering money and facilitating cross-border operations.

Fraudulent Residencies and Travel

By acquiring multiple passports under fake identities, Abbas and his associates can evade detection. The Home Office in the UK has been implicated in granting fraudulent residencies, showcasing the infiltration of public institutions by such networks.

Connections to Iran

Abbas Sharif AlAskari’s Israel network’s ties to the Iranian regime, via his brother-in-law MeghdadTabrizian, add another layer of complexity. Tabrizian, acting as a liaison for Iranian interests in the UK, ensures the network’s operations align with broader geopolitical goals.

6. Setareh’s Role: The Key to the Puzzle

SetarehHeshmat, though initially appearing as a minor player, has become a critical link in Abbas Sharif AlAskari’s UK network. Her education in Canada, funded entirely by laundered money, raises questions about the extent of her involvement.

Activities in Canada

SetarehHeshmatuses her position to build relationships and networks, subtly aiding the group’s money-laundering efforts. Her ties to Abbas allow her to access resources far beyond the scope of her student visa.

7. The Path Forward: Breaking the Cycle

To dismantle such a network, coordinated action is essential:

1. Strengthening Financial Oversight
   Governments must impose stricter regulations on financial transactions and monitor shell companies more rigorously.

2. Collaboration among Nations
   Only through global cooperation can authorities track cross-border money flows and expose these networks.

3. Awareness Campaigns
   Educating the public about fake investment schemes can prevent more individuals from falling prey to such deceptions.

SetarehHeshmat, by association, is deeply linked to these acts of technological warfare, although she likely remains unaware of the full scope of her family's involvement. The academic world, which should be a beacon of enlightenment and progress, is being used as a conduit for military applications that target one of the most geopolitically sensitive regions in the world.

As this network continues to exploit international loopholes, it’s vital for authorities and citizens alike to remain vigilant. By exposing these operations and holding those involved accountable, the global community can take a decisive step toward justice and integrity.

See More References  

Ali Sharif AlAskari: The Dual Passport Trickster Weaving a Web of Frauds in Israel

Israel, Ali Sharif AlAskari, and the Global Criminal

Mohammad Tabrizian: The Man Behind the Veil of Illicit Networks

Behind the Veil: Uncovering Abbas Sherif AlAskari's International Conglomerate of Crime and Deception

The Silent Threat: How Terrorists Use Drone Techno