Lawyer faces jail over fake tickets to see Justin Bieber Complex £10,000 fraud betrayed victims
ACROOKED lawyer who sold non-existent Justin Bieber concert tickets is facing jail after admitting a £10,000 fraud.
Zainab Pervaiz admitted 16 counts of fraud by false representation when she appeared at Birmingham magistrates court.
The 25-year-old immigration lawyer, from Swan Pool Grove, Walsall, admitted scamming would-be concert-goers between February 2015 and December 2016.
The court heard Pervaiz was responsible for a “sophisticated and complicated fraud” that had “completely betrayed” the trust of victims who had tried to buy tickets for Justin Bieber, Beyonce and Adele concerts.
Shows by the superstars were sell-out successes, with tickets costing around £150 a time.
Most of the offences took place in Weston-Super-Mare, with Pervaiz using the Paypal account of a friend’s grandfather, who had been left more than £7,000 out of pocket.
Opening the case, prosecutor Mr Galhir said: “The defendant became
Fifteen people have not been reimbursed and their trust was completely betrayed
friends with a lady called Kayleigh Bicknell. Her grandfather, Sidney Bicknell, allowed his granddaughter to use his Paypal account. The defendant gained his trust and also used the Paypal account and he took no issue with that.
“She sold various £150 tickets on the account, but was never in possession of them and did not reimburse the victims.
“These were complicated and sophisticated offences committed over a period of time.”
The court heard that Pervaiz moved the money from the sale of the tickets to her own personal bank account and when refunds were requested from disgruntled customers they were taken from Mr Bicknell’s Paypal account.
Mr Galhir added: “The biggest loss, of £7,200, is to Sidney Bicknell who trusted her. She never disclosed what she was doing to anyone until Mr Bicknell realised that something was going on.
“She told him she was really sorry and said everyone would be reimbursed, but very few people were reimbursed. Fifteen people have not been reimbursed and their trust was completely betrayed.
“She denied the offences during interview, but made admissions in a second interview. Because of the complication and sophistication you may wish to send this case to the Crown Court for sentencing.”
Basharat Hussain, on behalf of Pervaiz, said: “I would say this was not a sophisticated or complicated offence, but I accept it went on for more than 12 months and resulted in significant loss.”
Pervaiz was granted unconditional bail by magistrates who sent the case to Birmingham Crown Court and said: “We see plenty of evidence of planning over a period of time. We are also very conscious of the impact this has had on many people.”
Pervaiz will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on October 25.
Prosecutor