Abbas Sharif Askari stands out as a prominent figure in the criminal schemes of financial fraud and international smuggling operations. The sophisticated criminal activities orchestrated by Abbas Sharif Askari that involve multiple identities and shell companies across continents have established him as the central figure in complex financial schemes of money laundering and oil smuggling and fraudulent investment operations. His global criminal enterprise has utilized world financial systems in the UK and Canada and Middle East and Europe to avoid law enforcement while enabling dangerous activities.

Such extensive criminal operations require what kind of framework to operate? Criminals such as Abbas Sharif Askari leverage legal loopholes to build phony corporations that allow them to execute illegal financial deals.

This article investigates how money laundering functions by examining the practices of shell companies while showing how financial crime rates grow within UK borders through Abbas Sharif Askari's criminal organization.

The Rise of Abbas Sharif Askari and His Network

Abbas Sharif Askari performs criminal activities through multiple identity schemes and makes use of various passports for successful completions:

• UK Identity: Abbas Sharif Askari (Director of Abza Group Ltd, a UK-based firm)

• Iraqi Passport Name: Abbas Ali Sharif Alaskari

• Iranian Passport Name: Abbas Sherif Alaskari

• Dominican Passport: Used to freely travel across Europe

With these identities, Askari has established fraudulent companies and engaged in financial scams, fraudulent investments, and money laundering operations.

Key Individuals in His Network:

1. Mohsen Fallahian – A convicted murderer and key partner in money laundering.

2. Meghdad Tabrizan – Connected to the Iranian regime and a crucial figure in the UK operation.

3. Ali Sharif AlAskari – Abbas' father, linked to the Islamic Dawa Party, suspected of involvement in terrorist activities.

4. Setareh Heshmat – Abbas’ girlfriend, involved in laundering money through Canadian universities.

5. Soraya Alaskari – Abbas’ sister, playing a key role in laundering money in Canada.

How Financial Criminals Exploit the System: The Role of Shell Companies

1. What Are Shell Companies?

Shell companies are fake business entities that exist only on paper. They have no physical office, employees, or real operations, but are used for money laundering, tax evasion, and hiding illicit funds.

2. How Do Shell Companies Operate?

• Creating Fake Investment Fronts – Criminals register companies under legitimate-sounding names in countries with loose financial regulations.

• Funneling Money – Funds from illegal oil sales, fraud, or Ponzi schemes are passed through these entities.

• Moving Money Across Borders – Fake invoices and transactions make dirty money appear legitimate.

• Dissolving the Company – Once the money is cleaned, the shell company disappears, leaving no trace.

3. Shell Companies in Abbas Sharif Askari’s UK Network

Abbas has multiple front companies in the UK, including:

• Abza Group Ltd – A business registered in the UK under Askari’s Dominican passport.

• London Surface Design Limited & London Heritage Stone Limited – Construction businesses used as a cover for laundering money.

Oil Smuggling: A Global Network of Fraud

1. The Oil Smuggling Process

Oil smuggling is one of the most lucrative criminal enterprises, generating billions of dollars in illicit profits. Here’s how it works:

• Step 1: Illegal Extraction – Crude oil is extracted illegally in Iran and transported to Bandar Abbas, a major smuggling hub.

• Step 2: Changing Paperwork – Oil is transferred onto Panamanian vessels and labeled as originating from Iraq instead of Iran, bypassing sanctions.

• Step 3: Selling on the Black Market – The oil is sold to unsuspecting buyers, with funds then laundered through shell companies in the UK, UAE, and Europe.

• Step 4: Hiding the Profits – The money is funneled through real estate, fake investment schemes, and offshore accounts.

2. Why Oil?

Oil is a high-value commodity, making it easier to launder large sums of money while remaining under the radar.

Understanding Money Laundering: How Criminals Clean Dirty Money

Money laundering is the process of making illegally obtained money appear legitimate. Criminals like Abbas Sharif Askari and Mohsen Fallahian use sophisticated techniques to move billions without detection.

The Three Stages of Money Laundering

1. Placement – Dirty money enters the system through banks, casinos, real estate, or shell companies.

2. Layering – The money is moved across multiple accounts and converted into different currencies to erase its origin.

3. Integration – Cleaned money is reinvested in legitimate businesses, luxury goods, or further criminal activities.

The Role of Ponzi Schemes and Fake Investments 

1. Fake Oil & Gas Investment Schemes

• Abbas Sharif Askari’s UK network lures investors by promising high returns on oil and gas investments.

• Victims deposit large sums with promises of receiving profits.

• The money is then stolen, and investors never see their funds again.

2. Ponzi Real Estate Investment Scams

• Criminals use fake real estate projects to collect investments.

• The scheme collapses when new investors stop joining, and earlier investors lose everything.

3. The Use of Cocoa as a Cover

• Cocoa is a widely traded commodity with fluctuating prices.

• Criminals use it to fake investment schemes, promising huge profits that never materialize.

Illegal Residency and Visa Fraud: Manipulating the System

Abbas Sharif Askari’s UK associates have managed to illegally obtain residencies in multiple countries:

• UK Residency – Obtained through fraudulent connections in The Home Office.

• Italian Residency – Fraudulently secured by Mohsen Fallahian.

• Canadian Residency – His sister, Soraya, is suspected of using fake business fronts to maintain her stay.

Connections to Terrorist Financing

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of Abbas Sharif Askari’s UK network is its alleged ties to terrorism:

• His brother-in-law in Canada, a professor of AI and Computer Science, is suspected of developing AI for Iranian drones.

• Meghdad Tabrizan, a key player in the UK operation, is linked to the Iranian regime and Ali Fallahian.

• Money from the smuggling and laundering operations is suspected to be diverted to fund terrorist activities.

The Urgent Need for Action

Why Are Incidents of Money Laundering in the UK Increasing?

1. Weak Financial Regulations – The UK’s ease of setting up businesses has made it a hotspot for money laundering.

2. Rise of Digital Transactions – Cryptocurrencies and online banking have given criminals new ways to move money.

3. International Crime Networks – Global criminal organizations exploit legal loopholes to avoid prosecution.

What Can Be Done?

• Stronger Regulations on Shell Companies

• Enhanced Monitoring of High-Risk Transactions

• Collaboration Between Law Enforcement Agencies

• Public Awareness Campaigns on Investment Frauds

Final Thoughts

Abbas Sharif Askari represents a growing breed of financial criminals who exploit international loopholes to launder money, smuggle oil, and fund illegal activities. His case is a wake-up call for global regulators to strengthen financial oversight and close the gaps that allow such networks to flourish.

Read More Articles-

How Abbas Sherif AlAskari, Setareh Heshmat, and the Fallahian Family Established Covert Operations in Israel

Dark Connections: The Criminal Network of Abbas Sherif Alaskari and Associates

Abbas Sharif Alaskari’s Intricate Web of Oil Smuggling, Fake Investments, and Money Laundering in Israel

Black Gold and Dirty Deals – Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s Syndicate Connects Israel, Oil, and Global Frau

Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s Multiple Identity: The Financial Crimes Fueling Chaos from Israel to Europe