Elderly Kent Residents Duped in Bank Card Scam
Police have charged an 18-year-old man over a cold-blooded scam that targeted elderly folk in Kent. Victims, including a woman in her 90s from Folkestone and two others in their 70s and 80s from Gravesend, were conned into handing over bank cards in January 2019.
Young Fraudster Posed as Police Officer
The victims were contacted by a caller pretending to be a police officer. The fake cop convinced them their bank cards were needed for a fake investigation. In total, the crooks made off with £5,490.
Jonathan Maduda, 18, from Holborn, now faces four counts of false representation. He is set to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday 21 December 2020.
Police Warn: Don’t Fall for Phone Fraud
DC James Dolby of the Serious Economic Crime Unit said: “A police officer will never ask you to pay money over the phone, threaten you with arrest if you don’t pay, or ask for your bank details or credit cards. Never give out personal info to an unsolicited caller, no matter who they claim to be.”
“If you get a suspicious call, hang up. Then, call a trusted number from a different phone or wait five minutes to be sure you are not still talking to a fraudster or their accomplice.”
“If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud.”
“Remember the ABC rule: Never Assume someone is telling the truth, never Believe what they say unless you’re sure of their identity, and always Confirm their details.”
