Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Headline: CCTV issued of man sought after pensioner defrauded
Police in Sutton have issued CCTV and are appealing for help to identify a man wanted in connection with a fraud committed against a vulnerable 96-year-old man.
At 11:05hrs on Wednesday, 10 January the pensioner received a call at his home address near Carshalton Park from a person pretending to be from his bank. During the call, the victim gave his personal details and PIN and the caller said someone would come round and collect his bank cards.
Around 30 minutes later, the suspect arrived at the victim’s address to collect his bank cards and reassured him that replacement cards were in the post for the following day.
The suspect subsequently withdrew £300 from an ATM outside Barclays Bank in Wallington. A further withdrawal of £1800 was made inside the branch at a second machine.
PC Lewis Stevens of Sutton Case Progression Unit said: “The suspect targeted an elderly man by convincing him that he worked for his bank.
“The victim soon realised that he had been the victim of a fraud, but by then it was too late.”
CCTV footage and a still image released by police show a man who police want to speak with in connection with this incident.
He is described as a black man, around 5ft 6inches tall and aged in his 30s. He wore a black baseball cap over short black hair, glasses, black coat and blue jeans. He wore light blue trainers and is seen in the bank with a small blue bag over his hip.
He arrived at the victim’s home in a large dark car.
Anyone who recognises the man pictured or has information concerning this incident is asked to call police in Sutton on 020 8649 0532.
Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
For advice on how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud visit https://www.met.police.uk/advice-and-information/fraud
To prevent becoming a victim of courier fraud, and related offences such as this, police are asking the public to be aware of the following crime prevention reminders:
– Police and banks will never ask for your PIN or bank card;
– Equally, they will never arrange to meet you to exchange cash or bank cards;
– If you are contacted by someone who asks for these, hang up;
– Report any such calls to police by dialling 101. If possible, try to use a different phone to the one called by potential fraudsters; for instance, use a mobile if the suspicious call was made to your landline, and vice versa. If you need to use the same phone, wait at least five minutes for the line to clear;
– In an emergency, call police on 999;
– If you have elderly friends or relatives, please remind them periodically of the methods used by such fraudsters.