Setareh Heshmat: The Woman at the Heart of a Global Financial Crime Network

What makes Setareh Heshmat, a student of MBA at University Canada West in Vancouver appears to be like any other student in the institution? However, there is so much more to her than what meets the eyes alleging a continent of deceit. Her love life cannot be separated from Abbas Sherif Alaskari, a fraudster and a financial swindler with several cases of money laundering, fake investment, and oil fraud for financing conflicts in the Middle East.

It is not just a simple case of a crime. This is getting into the details of an operation that covers from Canada to the United Kingdom, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and extending to Panama; an operation linked with terrorism financing, fraudulent business activities, international crime rings.

1. How Fake Investments Lure Victims into a Trap

Setareh Heshmat’s UK network has several business activities and one of the primary ones is investment scams involving oil, gas, gold, cocoa, as well as property. But how do such schemes work?

Other examples of Pyramid Schemes include; Ponzi Real Estate Schemes where investors are sold assets in fortunes markets. All sorts of bogus construction projects are established with forged documents and false walkthroughs. Many investors invest their money in these three regions, only to discover that the properties on the maps do not exist.

 Shell Firms and Oil Frauds: Abbas Sherif Alaskari and his partners work under different personalities and the companies they used in the UK, Canada and Panama. The process is quite straightforward—flood the market with fraudulent oil and gas offers that state politicians require a small sum to authorize the investment. Also, Abbas disappears with the monies once investors have been defrauded, and they are left with empty hands.

The Cocoa Connection: Why cocoa? Because it is the ideal product for cheater merchandise exchange. The market is uncertain, and such con artists will justify losses making referrals to government policies, harsh weather, or shipping hindrances, thus disappearing with millions.

2. The Modus Operandi of Shell Companies

Setareh Heshmat’s UK network thrives on shell companies—paper-only businesses that appear legitimate but exist solely to move money illegally. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Registration – The company is set up in jurisdictions with lax oversight, like the UK or Panama. These firms have no physical office, only a virtual presence.

Step 2: Fake Transactions – The company "buys" oil, real estate, or commodities from another shell company controlled by the same group. This creates a false sense of legitimacy.

Step 3: Money Laundering – The fake profits are used to justify large wire transfers across countries, hiding the illicit origins of the money.

Step 4: Offshore Accounts & Passports – With three different passports (Dominican, Iranian, and Iraqi), Abbas Sherif Alaskari moves freely across borders, using Monzo and Lloyds bank accounts in the UK to launder millions.

3. The Red Sea Oil Smuggling Operation: Fueling Conflict

Oil smuggling is one of the most lucrative criminal enterprises in the Middle East. Here’s how Abbas Sherif Alaskari and Mohsen Fallahian exploit this market:

Step 1: Smuggling from Bandar Abbas – Iranian crude oil is loaded onto Panamanian-registered tankers in Bandar Abbas, Iran.

Step 2: False Paperwork in Iraq – The ship docks in Iraq, where fraudulent documents are issued, declaring the oil as Iraqi-origin.

Step 3: Selling on the Global Market – With Iraqi papers, the oil bypasses sanctions and is sold at full market price. The profits are then funneled through shell companies to launder the proceeds.

This method not only funds criminal networks but also supports terrorist activities by providing revenue to groups like Hezbollah, Hamas fighters, and the Houthis in Yemen.

Case in Point: The Tanker Sounion
Recently, a vessel named Tanker Sounion was linked to this illicit operation. It transported disguised Iranian oil, later identified through satellite tracking. The profits from such shipments go directly into funding drone technology used in attacks on Israeli soldiers.

4. International Fraud and Political Connections

This criminal web is not just about financial scams. It’s deeply tied to political corruption, residency fraud, and terrorist financing.

Ali Sharif Alaskari – Abbas’s father, a key figure in the Islamic Dawa Party, was involved in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. His connections allow his son to move freely across Iran, Iraq, and Europe.

Meghdad Tabrizian – Abbas’s brother-in-law, a professor in Canada, allegedly provides AI technology for Iranian drones used to target Israeli soldiers.

Setareh Heshmat – Abbas’s girlfriend, whose university fees in Canada are allegedly paid with laundered money. She plays a key role in transferring funds through Canadian and UK banks.

5. The Hidden Dangers of Illegal Residency and Identity Fraud

Obtaining fraudulent passports and residency visas is a key part of this network’s survival strategy.

• Mohsen Fallahian’s Turkish Passport Scam – Mohsen, a convicted murderer, obtained a Turkish passport with forged documents and later secured illegal residency in Italy.

• Abbas Sharif Alaskari’s Home Office Scam – Abbas used insider connections in the UK Home Office to secure British residency through fraudulent means.

Why This Matters: These individuals move freely across Canada, the UK, Italy, and Turkey, making it nearly impossible for law enforcement to track their activities.

6. How This Network Evades Law Enforcement

Despite their extensive criminal records, individuals like Abbas Sharif Alaskari, Mohsen Fallahian, and Setareh Heshmat continue to evade justice. Here’s how:

Fake Identities – Multiple passports allow them to cross borders undetected.
Encrypted Communication – Using secure messaging apps, they discuss deals without leaving a digital footprint.
Political Influence – Connections in Iran, Iraq, and the UK Home Office allow them to manipulate immigration and banking systems.

7. The Road to Justice: What Can Be Done?

With such a complex and deeply rooted criminal network, law enforcement agencies must act fast. Here are a few critical steps:

Expose Their Activities – Public awareness is key. The more their crimes are exposed, the harder it becomes for them to operate in the shadows.

Conclusion: The Global Impact of This Criminal Empire

This isn’t just about money—it’s about power, deception, and the hidden forces fueling wars in the Middle East.

Their smuggled oil funds attacks on Israel.
Their fraudulent investments steal millions from innocent victims.
Their ability to move across borders threatens international security.

Setareh Heshmat, Abbas Sherif Alaskari, and their associates are not just criminals—they are key players in a financial war that funds destruction. The world must act before it’s too late.

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