Police have described an organised crime group who robbed innocent customers interested in buying cars from Ebay as having “astounding scale and sophistication” and revealed how they were brought to justice.

Mohammed Fareed, 47, his son Fasial Farid, 25 and Adam Marco were jailed for a combination of 28 years for their role in the crimes between September 2019 and February last year.

They terrorised at lead 18 people who were interested in vehicles.

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The group would call themselves “Adam,” “John,” or “Jim” and would promote vehicle for a cheap price due to factors such as damage or needing to sell it due to an illness in the family.

Members of the public would turn up to view a car but would be met with masked men armed with machetes and hammers.

Mohammed Fareed, was identified as the ring leader and was out on licence from a 14 year sentence for conspiracy to supply heroin when this took place.

Farid helped provide information about how to use Ebay.

Marco was recruited by them to take part in the robberies.

They were finally rumbled when armed officers found and arrested the men before they were about to carry out a "sale" following an investigation by detectives from GMP's Serious and Organised Crime Group.

As a result of a covert investigation, the men were arrested in a stolen Kia Sportage outside McDonalds on Lorne Street, Oldham in February 2020.

Mohammed Fareed, Lorne Street, Oldham, was jailed for 20 years after being convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Faisal Farid, of Osborne Street, Oldham, was jailed for 12 years after being convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Adam Marco, of Kent Street, Oldham, was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery.

Detective Chief Inspector Joe Harrop, from GMP's Serious Crime Division, warned people about deals which seemed too good to be true.

He said: "These men were exceptionally organised and clearly knew exactly what they were doing and what they wanted - they have left some people extremely shaken up and they're still coming to terms with what they experienced now.

"These men had a clear set-up and would frequently change email addresses, Ebay accounts, phone numbers, and mobile phone handsets and provide fraudulent vehicle documentation to potential customers.

"The scale and sophistication of their offending was astounding but they have now been brought to justice thanks to our team of detectives in Serious Organised Crime Division who carefully pieced together all of their crimes and helped to put them behind bars where they deserve today.

"The old saying goes - if a deal looks too good to be true - it probably is. I'd recommend people not to agree to paying in large sums of cash and meet in a safe, well-lit area.”