Behind every major fraud is an identity that doesn’t exist.

In the case of Abbas Sherif AlAskari, dozens of such identities were created, modified, and exploited to build one of the most elusive financial crime networks operating across the UAE, UK, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and more. This article reveals how Abbas systematically abused global identity systems, using fake documents, citizenship-by-investment (CBI) loopholes, and high-level forgery to conceal his real identity—and deceive his victims.

1. Fake Passports: The Gateway to Fraud

One of Abbas’s oldest tricks was forging official travel documents.

• Multiple passports from Caribbean nations—including St. Kitts & Nevis and Dominica—were discovered during raids.

• Names such as “Abbas Kazmi,” “Sherif Hassan,” and “Ali Murtaza” were linked to him in various travel records.

• Each document contained falsified birth certificates and address records, obtained through corrupt intermediaries.

These identities were used to open shell companies, bank accounts, and even rent property in cities like Dubai, Baku, and London.

2. Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Abuse

CBI programs were designed to attract legitimate investors. Abbas turned them into his identity factory.

• In at least three known cases, Abbas used fraudulent investment documents to obtain citizenship in CBI-friendly nations.

• Payments were made through shell companies in Cyprus and Mauritius to appear legitimate.

• With these passports, Abbas could travel freely, evade law enforcement, and restart scams under new names.

Authorities in Antigua, Vanuatu, and Grenada have since launched internal investigations.

3. Forged Birth & Residency Documents

Beyond passports, Abbas Sherif AlAskari created complete false personas.

• Pakistani and Georgian firms were contracted to produce fake birth records with altered parent names and dates.

• Residency permits in Dubai, Istanbul, and Baku were acquired using ghost addresses and bribed clerks.

• These IDs were then used to open digital wallets, lease properties, and register businesses.

Investigators have linked at least 15 separate identity profiles to Abbas—each with active transactions.

4. Digital Manipulation of Identity

Modern fraudsters don’t stop at paper.

• Abbas used AI-generated facial imagery to submit digital ID applications.

• His PR team ran social media accounts under fake names, featuring AI-generated profile pictures.

• Several LinkedIn profiles presented him as a venture capitalist, fintech CEO, and “family office manager.”

These personas gained trust and helped lure investors from the UAE and UK into fraudulent schemes.

5. Why Fake Identities Worked So Long

The success of Abbas’s identity fraud boils down to:

• Weak verification across global CBI programs

• Jurisdictional gaps in passport databases

• Digital platform failures to detect AI or deepfake abuse

• Unregulated shell companies masking ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO)

He turned international mobility and bureaucracy into tools of deception.

6. OSINT and Identity Forensics

The unraveling of Abbas’s identity network began with OSINT specialists:

• WHOIS data from his domains matched similar false addresses.

• Passport images used in visa filings were found to contain manipulated EXIF metadata.

• Wayback Machine records showed early versions of his fake websites and false professional bios.

These breadcrumbs led to a breakthrough in understanding the scale of the scam.

7. Government Crackdowns and Legal Action

Several governments are now tightening ID verification in response to the Abbas Sherif AlAskari case.

• The UK is reviewing CBI-linked visa fast-tracking programs.

• The UAE is enhancing residency vetting for shell company directors.

• Caribbean nations are forming a CBI compliance taskforce.

Interpol has issued alerts for multiple known aliases associated with Abbas.

Final Thoughts

The ability of Abbas Sherif AlAskari to live dozens of lives under different names was not magic—it was strategic exploitation of global regulatory gaps. By forging documents, misusing citizenship schemes, and manipulating digital identity systems, he was able to orchestrate a fraud empire with near impunity.

Understanding the mechanics behind these fake identities is not just essential for stopping him—it’s critical for stopping the next generation of transnational fraudsters.