A Sydney-based Uber driver on an international student visa has been jailed after impersonating a lawyer and scamming a homebuyer out of more than $200,000 in a sophisticated property fraud.
Pardeep Pardeep, 28, an Indian national studying IT, was sentenced in Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday to two years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to dishonestly obtaining property by deception and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Most of the stolen money has not been recovered.
It is reported by SMH that Pardeep had initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea on the day his contested hearing was due to begin in December. He will serve a non-parole period of 14 months, backdated to the date of his arrest, making him eligible for release in June. The court heard he was likely to be deported after serving his sentence.
The court was told the offending began in October 2024, when Pardeep obtained the details of a man who had engaged a Sydney law firm to assist with a property purchase. He then registered a nearly identical internet domain name and set up an email address closely resembling that of the firm’s principal solicitor, including an identical email signature.
Over several weeks, Pardeep exchanged emails with the victim while also registering a company with a similar name to the law firm. He opened a Westpac business account in the company’s name, appointing himself sole director and owner.
On November 13, the victim was persuaded to transfer $209,000 — including stamp duty — to the account for the home purchase. The scam was uncovered about a week later when the victim spoke directly with the real lawyer.
The court heard the victim was left under significant financial and psychological strain and has recovered only $900 of the money.
SMH reports that Pardeep’s lawyer, Ikbal Khan, argued his client should avoid full-time custody, claiming he had acted on the advice of another man and had “turned a blind eye” once the funds began arriving. Prosecutors disputed that account, telling the court police had investigated the alleged mastermind and found he was not involved.
The magistrate heard Pardeep used some of the stolen funds to buy gold bullion, posing for photographs with it and taking images of bank statements. CCTV footage showed him purchasing the gold. When questioned by police, he claimed the company was a transport business, but admitted it had no customers.
In sentencing, Magistrate Andrew Miller ordered Pardeep to repay $100,000 — the maximum restitution available in the Local Court — and said the offender had acted deliberately.
“He knew exactly what he was doing and failed to take responsibility,” Magistrate Miller said.
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