Two fraudsters who tricked elderly people out of £265,000, including one victim scammed while at a funeral, have been jailed. Abdul Mohib, 23, and Mominur Rahman, 19, targeted vulnerable individuals across London over a 10-week period from August to October last year.
The pair used a 'courier fraud' tactic, posing as police officers on landline calls. They warned victims their bank accounts had been defrauded and urged them to ring their bank, but kept the line open to answer themselves. They then persuaded victims to provide bank details or withdraw cash, claiming it was part of a police investigation.
One 68-year-old victim handed over £8,500 while at a friend's funeral. An 85-year-old was tricked into giving £28,250 over three days, and an 80-year-old lost a gold Rolex watch worth £20,850. Rahman celebrated his crimes by taking a selfie with a wad of cash against his face.
Both pleaded guilty to 27 offences and were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday. Mohib, of King's Cross, received three years and eight months, while Rahman was jailed for 12 months. Detective Constable Will Richards described the scam as 'cruel and cunning', leaving victims feeling 'vulnerable and humiliated'.
