Fraudsters Hit Kent with Bold Phone Scam!
Thieves Use Stolen Details to Nab Phones
Scam artists are snapping up mobile phones using stolen personal details from Kent residents. They get the phones delivered through legit courier firms, leaving victims baffled when unexpected packages arrive.
Fake Couriers Trick Homeowners
Minutes after the delivery, a fraudster posing as a courier turns up claiming there’s been a “mistake.” They ask the homeowner to hand back the phone. The crooks then either sell the device or use it for more dodgy dealings.
Suspects Nabbed After Police Sting
A police probe linked two men to seven scams across maidstone/" title="Maidstone" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Maidstone, Sittingbourne, Orpington, and Bexleyheath during May and June 2021. Detectives caught Babatunde Olaonipekun red-handed in Gillingham when he tried to pull the same fraud again.
Olaonipekun, 42, of Rochester, and his accomplice Afis Quadri, 44, also from Rochester, were slapped with suspended sentences at Maidstone Crown Court after admitting conspiracy to defraud.
Police Warn Public to Stay Alert
Detective Chief Inspector Helen Smithers said: “We are pleased to have brought these two men to justice, but we know scams like this are widespread and often go unreported.”
“Many victims don’t suspect a thing until it’s too late. Sometimes deliveries get sent to neighbours to avoid suspicion.”
“Most stolen phones, especially pricey iPhones, are quickly shipped abroad, making it tough to track the crime.”
“If you receive an unexpected parcel or suspicious visitors, contact your bank or phone provider immediately and report it to the police.”
“Check your accounts regularly too — fraudsters often set up fake bank accounts in victims’ names.”
For more info on this scam and how to protect yourself, visit Kent Police’s fraud advice page.
