Photos of fraud suspects released

(top row, left to right) Kevin Leitch, Misba Uddin, Nicholas Slocombe, Ajayi Seun and Peter Stead. (bottom row, left to right) Nasser Ahmed, Mohamad Khan, Timur Mehmet, Jascent Nakawunde and an unknown woman (PA)

The faces of some of Britain's most wanted suspected fraudsters have been published in an effort to bring them to justice.

Crimestoppers, the national charity, said the 10 suspected criminals were allegedly responsible for a total of at least £200 million of fraud.

The list includes a live-in carer suspected of a £35,000 fraud after she allegedly stole cheques from a vulnerable old woman, a man who allegedly posed as an entertainer raising money for a young cancer patient and a man thought to be behind a holiday booking scam.

Two men wanted in relation to alleged VAT fraud who were sentenced in their absence after absconding also feature.

Peter Stead, 48, is suspected of conning Derbyshire pub landlords out of thousands of pounds in 2009 after offering to put on a comedy night to raise money for a fund set up to send a young cancer patient to the US for treatment.

Nicholas Slocombe, 28, failed to answer bail after being arrested in April on suspicion of more than 30 allegations of fraud by false representation across Shropshire and Herefordshire.

Police said he was wanted in connection with reports from dozens of shops and businesses about alleged false claims of collecting for charity.

Jascent Nakawunde, 33, also known as Tania Bird, is wanted for questioning in connection with an alleged £35,000 fraud in the Cardiff area between 2007 and 2008.

She was employed as a live-in carer for an old woman in her 80s and is accused of stealing cheques from her which were allegedly paid into false accounts in the London area.

Nasser Ahmed, 38, is wanted in connection with a £156 million VAT fraud in the Bristol area. He absconded during his trial and was sentenced to six years in his absence.

Crimestoppers said fraud cost the UK an estimated £38 billion last year.

Lord Ashcroft, founder and chairman of Crimestoppers, said: "This is not a victimless crime. Every single one of us is paying higher taxes, bank charges and insurance fees because of fraud.

"The amount of fraud against the public purse is around £27 billion a year. This is equivalent to 30% of the estimated national education budget for 2011/2012."

He added: "Serious fraudsters often operate as part of gangs and fraud is just one of their business streams. This can result in the funding of drugs and people trafficking, which causes real harm to many."

Lord Ashcroft urged anyone with information about fraudsters, or the whereabouts of the 10 people featured on the list, to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or to visit its website http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org and fill in an online form.

"We guarantee that no one will know your identity," he said.

"Help us take these criminals out of circulation."

PA