Jaspal Singh Juttla was sentenced to five years in prison at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to 26 counts of fraud covering a period of seven years.
Juttla claimed to be a mortgage broker who promised big investment returns to his victims if they invested in his property schemes.
He would meet his clients - who were predominantly Indian and spoke little or no English - at various locations in London. Often he would present official documentation like letter headed paper, invoices, receipts and agreements to his unsuspecting victims to disguise his elaborate scam, according to police.
Detective Constable Stephen Rothwell, Hillingdon CID said:
"Juttla fed his gambling habit and need for luxury goods and cars by exploiting his trusting victims and stealing their hard earned cash.
He had promised members of his own community that he would help them to move up the London property ladder and build the best future for their families.
Many of the victims did not have the confidence to come forward and report Juttla's actions due to their minimal understanding of the property market, policing procedures and embarrassment about being conned.”
