My Pakistan agent, who is also a friend of 27 years standing, has asked me to help him find a broker to whom he gave £15,000 in cash as advance payment for some used production equipment. The deal seems to have failed as the company selling the equipment has decided they want to keep it so my Pakistani friend has asked the broker to pay me the money to go into his business account here.

The broker is someone I have also known (but never met in person) for around 25 years; he used to co-own a company refurbishing production equipment but recently went solo and now hangs around on the fringes of the industry making a living from buying and selling equipment and materials. He is not picking up on either of the mobile numbers we have, nor is he answering emails. I have the address of the company, of which he is sole director but which has never traded. I have the address of a flat he uses in London. I admit that it looks worrying, especially when there have been several trading addresses and mobile numbers and the payment was in cash but I’m still hopeful that there’s a good explanation; from Experian I have found that he’s almost 70 so he may be sick or even dead! He might just have gone away on holiday but it’s un-characteristic of him to ignore calls because I might have some reject stock he’d be able to sell, as he has done in the past for me.

The seller of the production equipment is on holiday so I can’t check with him. So I’ve written to the broker and emailed and left voicemails. Has anybody got any other suggestions?

There are people who specialise in finding missing persons and some advertise in the back of Private Eye magazine.

Better call Saul

This guy could find him….

Better still, call Salim.

You need to search the Metabase.

Globatti, just a word of caution. Whilst what your doing is not illegal the UK bank will flag the transaction under money laundering regulations and with the country of origin SOCA may put a stop on the money and possibly your account until they have satisfactory evidence of where the money has come from. Why is he it having the money paid direct to his business account over here assuming he can find the broker.

Does your friend look like this?

Yes I’m aware of the money-laundering thing. Our own bank is accustomed to money coming in from all over the world including Nigeria, Russia, Sudan and Pakistan and I don’t think they’ve ever flagged anything.

You don’t need to find him, you just need to find your money, right?

Firstly, I would ascertain who has the £15k.
Could be your agent, the company, the broker, someones bank/payment mechanism or a third party.
Once you’ve done that, start trying to get it back.
What is your agent friend doing about it? I would start with him…

Say goodbye to the £££ coz the other company will now declare bankrupt etc …