Drain Scam Thief Banged Up for Preying on Pensioners
Ian Baggs is behind bars after running a nasty scam charging elderly victims for fake drain repairs. The con saw Baggs and his gang cold-calling or doorstepping vulnerable people, claiming urgent council repairs were needed. Then they demanded deposits for “machine parts” supposedly going down the drains.
Scamming the Elderly Out of Thousands
Between January 13 and 16, 2020, Baggs targeted victims in their 80s and 90s, tricking them into handing over bank cards. He claimed he’d process payments on the spot with a chip and pin machine in his van. One poor woman was duped into writing cheques worth nearly £10,000.
Baggs, 41 and with no fixed address, was arrested in April 2020 after investigators traced the cheques straight into his bank account. CCTV footage caught him using victims’ cards at shops and cash machines, while phone records linked his calls to the targeted homes.
Sentenced to Three Years Behind Bars
He pleaded guilty in Maidstone Crown Court to five counts of fraud by false representation. Authorities also considered 19 other offences across Sussex and Surrey from January and February 2020.
On August 3, 2021, Baggs was sentenced to three years in prison for his ruthless crimes.
Police Warn: Don’t Fall for This Trick
Detective Constable Matt Thomas of West Kent CID said: “Baggs was part of a widespread scam deliberately targeting elderly and vulnerable people. The emotional and financial damage to victims is devastating.”
He urged the public to remember: a council worker will never ask for money or bank details, either in person or by phone.
If you get a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Wait five minutes before using your phone again and then call the police to report it.
