Crackdown Nets 41 Arrests and Stops £50k Fraud Payouts
Kent Police have dealt a heavy blow to fraudsters, charging three suspects and making 41 arrests during a major February crackdown. Their swift action prevented victims across Kent from losing at least £50,000 to various scams, including romance fraud, fake building repairs, and postal cons.
Criminal gangs targeting vulnerable locals were dismantled, sending a strong message: Kent won’t tolerate fraud.
Massive Savings for Victims
- £3,000 saved by intervening in romance scams
- Four parcel delivery frauds foiled, returning £7,500 in stolen goods
- Over £10,000 seized during raids and arrests
- £270,000 recovered after victims worked with banks for refunds
- 15 rogue trader vans and a pressure washer were seized to stop scams
Shady Roofers and Rogue Traders Busted
On February 2, cops arrested two men after an elderly woman lost £30,000 to aggressive rogue traders pushing unnecessary roof repairs. A van loaded with roofing flyers was also seized.
Days later, officers stopped a suspicious withdrawal by a man in his 70s in Ashford, leading to the arrest of two Dartford men on fraud charges.
Another scammer was nabbed on February 25 for trying to rake in hundreds for driveway cleaning that never happened.
Fraud Trio Charged Over Fake Roof Repairs
Three men linked to tampering with roof tiles in Maidstone to pressure the homeowner into costly repairs were charged with fraud. Jesse Harber, Dillon Lemon, and Thomas Harber appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court and were bailed ahead of their March court hearing.
Detective Inspector Ian Sanderson said: “Fraudsters target the most vulnerable, stealing life savings because they think it’s easy and won’t be caught. This operation proves we’re fighting back hard. Those who commit fraud in Kent will be caught and brought to justice.”
Backing from National Crime Initiatives
This crackdown was supported by Operation Henhouse, a National Economic Crime Centre project, working with City of London Police. It provides extra funding and backing for forces to battle fraud as part of the wider Stop! Think Fraud campaign.
