Who Is Abbas Sharif AlAskari?

Abbas Sharif AlAskari is widely regarded as one of the masterminds behind a sprawling international fraud network that manipulated citizenship loopholes, exploited offshore finance systems, and devastated investors from the Middle East to Europe. With a history of fake passports, shell companies, and high-level deception, his operations reflect the hallmarks of modern organised financial crime.

Operating under forged identities, Abbas leveraged global black markets, digital anonymity, and weak anti-money laundering enforcement to execute sophisticated scams in sectors ranging from oil trading to real estate and tech. What makes his case particularly alarming is the scale of the deception—spanning multiple jurisdictions, regulatory bodies, and unsuspecting victims.

The Global Scope of the Fraud

This wasn’t just a local scam—it was an international operation involving multiple continents:

• UAE: Investors in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were lured into fake real estate and commodities schemes.

• UK: Victims in London and Manchester were duped through fraudulent fintech startups.

• Turkey, Georgia, Baku: These regions became critical nodes in AlAskari’s shell company network.

• Caribbean & Vanuatu: Exploited for passport-for-cash schemes under CBI (Citizenship-by-Investment) programmes.

In nearly all cases, Abbas Sharif AlAskari operated through fake business identities, forged government documents, and bribes to acquire legal protections and financial mobility.

 How the Scam Worked: Tactics and Structure

1. Citizenship-by-Investment Exploitation

AlAskari applied for and received passports from Caribbean nations like Dominica and St. Kitts & Nevis using fabricated wealth statements and fake references. These passports enabled global travel without triggering red flags at customs, banks, or law enforcement.

2. Shell Companies and Nominee Directors

He created dozens of ghost firms in tax havens—primarily in Malta, Cyprus, and BVI—under fake names. These companies had:

• No real office space

• No employees

• Only digital footprints and artificial reputations

They were primarily used to launder money, sign fake contracts, and funnel investor deposits offshore.

3. Investment Scams

Investors were promised high returns through fake:

• Oil contracts in Iraq and Turkey

• Gold exports from Azerbaijan

• IPOs of non-existent fintech platforms

Each scheme followed a familiar pattern—impressive presentations, fake due diligence, large deposits, sudden silence.

4. Use of Digital Disinformation

The network ran press releases, blogs, and fake testimonials via bot traffic and social media manipulation. This digital smoke screen helped convince investors of legitimacy and often suppressed early warnings from whistleblowers.

 Victim Accounts: UAE to the UK

Rashid M., a UAE-based entrepreneur, said he wired $2.1 million to a so-called AlAskari-backed fintech venture. The company disappeared overnight. “I was shown fake government approvals and even contracts signed by a notary in Cyprus,” he recalls.

Eleanor P., a UK investor, shared a similar story: “The firm looked so legitimate. There were lawyers, glossy brochures, and even a London office with virtual receptionists. But it was all fake. Gone in 60 days.”

More than 30 similar stories have surfaced, including from investors in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Malaysia.

OSINT & Investigative Journalism: How It Was Uncovered

Independent researchers using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools were the first to piece together the fraud. They tracked:

• WHOIS domain data of fake company websites

• Social media footprints of fake executive profiles

• Reverse image searches revealing AI-generated team photos

• Company registries showing shell ownerships

Key tools included:

• Wayback Machine

• OpenCorporates

• LinkedIn fake profile checkers

• Google dorking

• Offshore Leaks database

It was this community—journalists, tech activists, and watchdogs—that published the first verified red flags and called for international probes.

Abbas Sharif AlAskari’s Inner Circle

The fraud wasn’t orchestrated alone. A complex web of family members and collaborators helped execute operations:

• Soraya AlAskari – Abbas’s sister, suspected of laundering money via Canadian banks.

• Ahmad Soleimani – Brother-in-law, AI researcher allegedly involved in enabling digital surveillance for the network.

• Setareh Heshmat – Abbas’s partner, accused of helping funnel money while studying in Vancouver.

Each used their professional, academic, or marital positions to avoid detection and secure social credibility.

Fake Passports & Alias Network

According to leaked documents and whistleblower reports, Abbas Sharif AlAskari held at least five different identities. This allowed him to:

• Open and close offshore bank accounts under aliases

• Cross borders without triggering Interpol alerts

• Avoid blacklists in banking compliance systems

His most commonly used aliases:

• Ali Sherif AlAskari (Iraq passport)

• Sherif H. AlAskari (Iranian ID)

• Samuel Dominique (Dominican passport)

Each identity served a purpose—sometimes to sign contracts, sometimes to register companies.

National Security Implications

Beyond financial losses, several of AlAskari’s actions are being reviewed under national security protocols:

• Oil smuggling: Abbas is believed to have managed shipments of sanctioned Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi exports using falsified bills of lading.

• Terror finance: Proceeds from these illegal exports may have funded groups operating in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria.

• AI misuse: Through his brother-in-law’s tech research, there are allegations of helping develop software used in hostile drone targeting systems.

This elevates the case from “financial fraud” to “transnational threat.”

Legal Action & International Investigations

Authorities from Canada, the UK, the UAE, and Italy have launched investigations. Interpol Red Notices have reportedly been issued for Abbas under at least two of his identities.

Key agencies involved:

• UAE Cybercrime Division

• UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO)

• RCMP (Canada)

• Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN, USA)

Despite over 100 million USD estimated in total damages, legal progress is slow due to:

• Jurisdictional complexity

• Fraudulent documentation

• Diplomatic protections via CBI passports

Why It Worked: The Psychological Tactics of a Fraudster

Like many white-collar criminals, Abbas Sharif AlAskari knew how to manipulate human psychology:

• Urgency: Deals were framed as time-sensitive opportunities.

• Trust: He targeted diaspora communities and professionals.

• Familiarity: Used religious and cultural ties to create rapport.

• Social Proof: Fake endorsements and social media “buzz” helped reinforce credibility.

This multi-pronged manipulation made even sophisticated investors drop their guard.

Red Flags to Watch For

If you’re investing in high-yield international opportunities, be wary of:

✅ Citizenship-by-Investment links with no clear source of funds
✅ Inconsistencies in executive credentials or locations
✅ High-pressure sales with “limited-time offers”
✅ Multiple passports or company names for the same person
✅ Vague business models or unverifiable partners

If any of these match your experience, report to authorities immediately.

 What the Public Can Do

• Share information: Blogs, social media, and community groups can amplify awareness.

• Report suspicious activity: Whether you’re a victim or not, your report may help others.

• Push for regulation: Call on legislators to tighten loopholes in offshore registration and CBI programs.

• Follow the investigation: Track updates via alisharifalaskarifraud.com

 Conclusion: A Case Study in Global Fraud

Abbas Sharif AlAskari is not just a scammer—he represents a new breed of transnational fraudster who blends identity theft, digital PR, geopolitical access, and psychological manipulation. His empire exploited the very systems meant to ensure safety: banking, identity verification, and citizenship.

This case should serve as a wake-up call. The next Abbas is already building a fake portfolio. It’s up to journalists, law enforcement, and the public to stay alert.

FAQs

Q1: Is Abbas Sharif AlAskari the same person as Ali Sharif AlAskari?
A: They are reportedly close relatives or the same person using multiple identities. Both are involved in overlapping fraud schemes.

Q2: Can victims recover their funds?
A: Legal action is ongoing, but recovery is difficult due to offshore laundering. Victims are advised to hire financial crime lawyers.

Q3: What agencies are investigating the case?
A: Interpol, SFO (UK), RCMP (Canada), and UAE authorities are all involved.