Police warning after elderly man falls victim to fraud in Whitnash

The victim was at home on Monday when he was approached on his driveway by a man claiming to be from Trading Standards and warning of a company completing work in houses in the area but overcharging customers.

The conman man then asked the victim for his home telephone number and said he would contact him with the results of a related court hearing.

Minutes later, he called and claimed that the company in question had been prosecuted.

Later on that evening, the victim was contacted again by a man claiming to be from the court and asking for details of how much money was in the victim and his wife’s bank accounts.

The caller told the couple they were in line for thousands of pounds in compensation and to withdraw £4,500 from their accounts to be collected before the transaction could be processed.

An envelope containing £4,500 was then handed over, as arranged by the caller, to a man on the corner of Moorhill Road.

The couple after told their son what had happened, and police were contacted, with an appeal now out for help tracking down offenders and warning others of the dangers.

The man who met the couple is described as being in his early 30s, 5 foot 9, of a slim build, with short brown hair and clean shaven. He was wearing dark trousers, dark shoes, a light blue long sleeved shirt and a red coloured lanyard around his neck.

Police are urging residents to be vigilant, and warn elderly friends and relatives to beware of anyone offering cash or compensation over the phone.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101.