‘Frequent flyer’ fraudster jailed for two years 

Milesh Talreja, from central London, lived a life on luxury as he scammed people out of hundreds of thousands of pounds

A credit card fraudster who splashed out more than £100,000 on 20 British Airways flights and plastic surgery for a friend has been jailed.  

Milesh Talreja, from central London, lived a life of luxury as he scammed people out of tens of thousands of pounds.

Using his ill-gotten gains he flew around the world to Dubai, Hong Kong and Switzerland.

The con-artist clocked up so many air-miles he even qualified for BA’s ‘Gold member’ status.

While back in the UK Talreja stayed in exclusive hotels in London’s West End at a cost of £40,000.

But today Talreja is beginning a two-year prison sentence after he admitted 21 counts of fraud, dishonestly spending £105,000, at Inner London Crown Court.

The con-artist used stolen cards and false documents to claim that he was a highly-paid employee of a major law firm.

Talreja had previously been convicted of credit card offences in his native Australia and had practised law in Hong Kong, but was struck off in 2017, the court heard.

Using 17 different cards, he booked flights around the world, including trips to France, Greece, Croatia and Italy, at a cost of £25,000. 

For travel within the UK, between hotels, airports and other journeys, the defendant used one mini cab firm for approximately 50 journeys, using eight different cards.

Fraudster Talreja lived in a flat in this central London street, as he scammed thousands to fund his luxury lifestyle

Fraudster Talreja lived in a flat in this central London street, as he scammed thousands to fund his luxury lifestyle

Talreja also used stolen credit cards to pay for rent and a number of cosmetic surgeries for his girlfriend. These include surgery worth over £7,000 at one Harley Street clinic.

The fraud was investigated when intelligence was passed to the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit.  

DC Alex Coubrough, who investigated the case said: ‘Talreja believed he could live the high life using other people’s credit cards and other people’s money. 

‘The police take fraud very seriously and these sentences send a clear message to fraudsters: you will be caught and punished.’ 



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