On 5 August 2025, the FCA secured a further confiscation order in respect of a fourth defendant, Reuben Akpojaro, in connection with an investment fraud. Following the earlier confiscation orders obtained on 14 May 2025 against Raheel Mirza, Cameron Vickers and Opeyemi Solaja, the orders now total £293,726.16.
Background
From June 2016 to January 2020, Mirza, Vickers, Solaja, and Akpojaro participated in a scheme to cold-call individuals, convincing victims to invest in a shell company called Bespoke Markets Group, which was purportedly used to trade in binary options. However, the fraudsters misappropriated those funds for personal use, including large cash withdrawals, luxury foreign travel, cosmetic dentistry, online gambling, property purchases, a wedding reception and nightclub parties. To encourage further investment, they claimed they would match investors’ contributions with their own funds and refund any losses incurred within the first three to six months. To further convince victims, a sophisticated online platform was deployed to display their funds as being actively traded, despite no genuine trading activity taking place.
Mirza, Vickers and Solaja were convicted of conspiracy to defraud in 2023 and sentenced to a combined 24 and a half years in prison. They were also disqualified from acting as company directors for 10 years. Mirza was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice. Akpojaro was found guilty of making unauthorised calls to consumers to sell binary options but was acquitted of fraud and money laundering. He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 150 hours of community service.
Result
The FCA has confirmed that the recovered funds will be returned to investors as soon as possible. The Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight at the FCA, Steve Smart, commented on the FCA’s commitment to tackling financial crime and its determination to recover as much as possible for the 120 victims involved.
The FCA’s determined pursuit and success in securing confiscation orders in this case highlight its resolve to ensure investment fraudsters are held accountable and do not profit from their illicit activities.