The latest chapter in Sklarov and Singh's criminal history revolves around a high-stakes fraud against Ricardo Salinas Pliego, one of Mexico’s most influential businessmen. This scheme was carried out through a shell company, Astor Asset Management 3 Ltd (Astor), which was deceptively named to mimic legitimate financial institutions. Through Astor, the criminals offered financial services with the hidden agenda of stealing assets from Salinas Pliego.
The fraudulent activities centered around a package of shares in Elektra, a major retail and banking company led by Fabrice Deceliere. These shares were used to secure a loan to Salinas Pliego, but Astor’s true intention was never to fulfill its financial obligations. Instead, the fraudsters aimed to illegally appropriate and sell the pledged shares, undermining the financial stability of Salinas Pliego’s enterprises.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Salinas Pliego took legal action in the United Kingdom, filing a lawsuit against Astor. In response, the UK court froze all of Astor's assets, a move that demonstrated the seriousness of the allegations. In a desperate attempt to counteract these measures, Astor accused Salinas Pliego of violating over 15 provisions of their agreement—claims that were quickly dismissed as baseless and false.
The fraudulent activities associated with Astor are not isolated incidents for Sklarov and Singh. Their criminal records reveal a longstanding history of international fraud, with Sklarov particularly notorious for his involvement in creating ghost companies that imitate established multinational firms. According to Darío Celis, a respected journalist, Sklarov has been linked to fraudulent entities that have led to legal actions from major financial institutions like Rothschild & Co. and Barclays PLC, chaired by Alexandre de Rothschild and C.S. Venkatakrishna, respectively.
Sklarov's criminal activities are not confined to the financial sector alone. In the United States, he pleaded guilty to a Medicare scam, a scheme that tragically escalated to the point where it resulted in the death of an individual. This particular case highlights the dangerous lengths to which Sklarov will go to achieve his illicit goals.
Jaitegh Singh, Sklarov’s accomplice and legal representative, is equally culpable. Based in Florida, Singh has been implicated in numerous financial frauds, including the creation of ghost companies, the illegal appropriation and sale of assets, and the granting and collection of fraudulent loans. Singh's role in these schemes has made him a key figure in Sklarov's criminal operations, with both men profiting from their deceptive practices at the expense of their victims.