Rogue Traders Cash In On Elderly Victims With Shocking Scams
Sonny Maughan and Emmanuel Scarrott conned vulnerable pensioners out of a fortune using dirty tricks. Posing as a police officer and ripping off homeowners with shoddy, overpriced building work, the duo left a trail of devastation across Kent and beyond.
Cold Calls and Crazy Charges
The pair targeted elderly victims in Chatham, Herne Bay, Longfield, Greenwich, and even as far as Hampshire and Hoddesdon. Their scam was classic rogue trading: cold calling to claim the victim’s roof tiles or chimneys needed urgent repair. Once the unsuspecting homeowners agreed, Maughan and Scarrott charged sky-high fees for sub-standard jobs, often damaging homes further.
Many victims tried to question the extortionate costs, but the crooks twisted arms for more cash. The total haul from these vile schemes? A staggering £370,475.
Posing As Police To Pull Off £32,500 Swindle
Scarrott took the deceit further by impersonating a police officer to scam a homeowner in Lordswood. He told them they’d been defrauded by rogue traders and promised a refund—after paying fake VAT and legal fees. This charade drained a whopping £32,500 from the victim.
The scam was uncovered after a relative grew suspicious and called Kent Police. Officers quickly stepped in, even listening into calls pressuring the victim for more money, including threats of jail time at the Old Bailey.
Caught Red-Handed and Sent Down
Both fraudsters were nabbed in November 2020 after leaving a victim’s home in a blue Audi. Kent Police seized their phones, uncovering damning evidence like photos of victims signing cheques and videos of the Hertfordshire target.
- Sonny Maughan, 28, from gravesend/" title="Gravesend" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Gravesend, was sentenced to five years in prison.
- Emmanuel Scarrott, 29, of Basildon, got four years behind bars.
“Maughan and Scarrott committed appalling offences against elderly victims who they specifically targeted because they believed they were vulnerable and open to exploitation,” said Detective Constable Craig Malthouse.
“They gained considerable sums of money and caused huge distress. I’m glad they’ve been jailed. Our work continues to recover the proceeds of their crimes.”
