Scam Types dot Com

Three men were today, at Kingston Crown Court, found guilty of a huge global scam, selling fake Viagra tablets.

The scam, which medical experts say is the biggest of it’s type ever to be heard in the UK, involved dozens of businesses spread across the UK, Mexico, the US and other countries.

The fake Viagra tablets were manufactured in Pakistan, China and other parts of Asia before being sold to duped customers for $40 (£20) per tablet. The counterfeits were so good that only an expert could tell them apart from the real thing, the jury were told. In fact, they came with all the right logos, tablet markings, packaging and even patient information leaflets.

The three men behind the Viagra scam - Gary Haywood, Ashwin Patel and Zahid Mirza - were all convicted of conspiracy.

Their arrest followed a lucky break that occurred when tablets were seized upon their entry to the UK. Experts later tested the tablets and found that they only had around 90% of the usual amount of active ingredient in them.

Customers who had taken the tablets had many complaints, including feelings of nausea and lack of performance

The three men were also found guilty of involvement in a further scam, this time including baldness cures.