A bogus holy man is believed to have conned dozens of trusting people out of their life savings before fleeing the area in which he’s setting up to temporarily work in.

The fake fakir, believed to be posing as a religious expert or 'peer sahib' going by the name of ‘Mubarak Shah’, is thought to have fleeced several innocent families.

With one alleged victim claiming to have handed over £35,000 in cash, and at least two others parting with £20,000 each, it is thought the conman may have hit a whopping £150,000 jackpot at the expense of gullible folk in one area alone in a matter of days.

The Asian Express Newspaper has spoken to numerous people who claim to have either been conned themselves or know people who have.

All the victims admitted they had been foolish to believe the holy man's promises - which included telling his victims they would win the lottery or be cured of their troubles - but they claimed they had been "brainwashed” by a manipulative and clever man.

And although the alleged conman was a Muslim 'holy man' he successfully duped pious people of other religions.

One Sikh victim, a Leeds-based family man who was too embarrassed to be named, told the Asian Express: "He told me I would win the lottery.

"I gave him my life savings and some money I had saved for my kids.

"I even got a loan to pay him.

"I know it sounds ridiculous but he had such a way of talking that he really got you going.

"He showed you amazing things in front of your eyes that made you believe him.

"I believed he was a man of God.

"But he was conning the whole community."

One of the conman's elaborate tricks, the victim explained, was to ask people to bring him some eggs, in which he would than place a holy 'taveez' or amulet. He would eventually claim to pull the victim's "winning lottery numbers" out of the eggs.

Another victim, a Muslim who was taken for £15,000, told the Asian Express: "He has conned a lot of people in Bradford and now he has packed his bag and gone. He must have taken at least £100,000 in cash.

"He was like a magician. He could speak many languages; Arabic, Persian, Punjabi, Gujarati.

"He talked quite nicely and would do prayers on you.

"He said he was blessed from the age of seven.

"I fell for it because he used the Prophet's name.

"I have been naive and stupid and I have learnt my lesson but I don't want this to happen to anyone else.”

It is believed the alleged conman could be operating under several different names but he distributed a leaflet in Bradford displaying the name Mubarak Shah.

A surprisingly common practice

The practices and beliefs entailing engaging with people - who claim to be gifted with the precognitive sense by God is still very much part of many South Asians across the globe.

Calling themselves alims, fakirs, pundits and najoomis - these people are not just followed by the rural populations, but by the more modern urban populace and even used by celebrities.

So is there any truth to their spiritual powers? Many people who are familiar with using such practices swear by the gift of the ‘holy men’, but in the case of one furious woman who contacted the Asian Express claimed she had first become aware of the fake fakir after hearing him appear as a guest on a local radio station.

Alleged “holy man” was ‘not properly investigated’ claim

One reader, named as Mrs X, came forward to speak to us and said: "I am just so shocked that no one investigated him properly before he spoke to hundreds of listeners of the radio station.

"I know that one guy who gave him £39,000 and another who gave him £25,000.
"But I think there will be thousands of people who will have been ripped off.

"I know a couple of people have told the police about it.

"Many people went to him because they were desperate for family reasons, but he brainwashed them.

"People have even taken out bank loans and re-mortgaged their homes.

"It sounds stupid and far-fetched, but when people are desperate, they do believe it."

The Chief Executive of the radio station said the firm was "dismayed" to hear of the allegations against Mubarak Shah.

But she stressed his alleged promises were never made whilst he was speaking on air.

"As a guest speaker Mr Shah was vetted for his knowledge of the subject he was due to speak on and not his personal credentials as is standard practise and his discussions were always of a religious nature.

“There have been no complaints as to the content of Mr Shah’s programmes during the period his programmes were broadcast and that is the main concern of this radio station."

She urged anyone who believes they may have been conned to contact the police immediately.

Despite several attempts, the Asian Express was unable to contact 'Mubarak Shah' via the number given on his leaflet.