Fraudsters Scammed Vulnerable Homeowners Across Surrey, Essex and London
Between February and September 2019, crooked doorstep con artists preyed on elderly and vulnerable homeowners. They forced victims into coughing up huge sums for fake or shoddy building jobs. Scammers claimed urgent repairs were needed, demanding deposits for cranes and scaffolding that never showed up.
Their identities remained a mystery despite extensive manhunts. But police cracked the money laundering network behind the scenes. At the heart of the operation was 54-year-old Lee Cross from Romford. Cross ran multiple business accounts under aliases like A-Z Repairs, knowingly channelling millions in dirty money through rapid transfers and big cash withdrawals.
Lee Cross and Crew Found Guilty in Guildford Crown Court
On 13 November 2025, Lee Cross and three accomplices were convicted of laundering more than £500,000 linked to these doorstep scams. One victim was conned with a fake “up and over” scaffolding job priced at £8,000. Crooks posing as “Andy Dorson” from A-Z Repairs badgered the victim with calls and emails. Voice and digital forensics proved “Dorson” was actually Cross.
