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Arrests after elderly Preston woman conned out of £200,000

Posted on - 23rd September, 2020 - 10:19pm | Author - | Posted in - Crime, Lancashire Police, Preston News
Elderly woman's hands Pic: Sabine van Erp from Pixabay
Pic: Sabine van Erp from Pixabay

Two men have been arrested by police investigating a £200,000 fraud in Preston.

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Officers from Lancashire Police’s Economic Crime Unit executed two warrants at addresses in Blackburn yesterday (Tuesday 22 September).

Two men, aged 51 and 41, were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and fraud offences after a woman reported being defrauded between April and July this year.

The woman, aged in her 70s and from Preston, said she had received a phone call from a man claiming to be calling on behalf of her bank.

Read more: Kind neighbours launch fundraiser after elderly Penwortham resident conned

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A spokesperson for Preston Police said: “The man suggested her bank account had been used by fraudsters to buy products from several retailers. He then asked for the woman’s pin numbers for her accounts, which she gave.

“It was reported the man said the items would arrive at her address, but the bank would send someone from their fraud team to recover the products, which would later be used in evidence.

“Items totalling £200,000 were later bought using her account. When the products arrived at her address, she called the man, who then sent someone to collect the items.

“The man told the woman not to report the issues to police, but instead allow the fraud team to deal with the transactions.

“The fraud was only discovered when her bank noted the high transactions and reported the issue to police.”

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Following investigation, two men were arrested and later released under investigation. Enquiries are ongoing.

If you suspect you may have been a victim of fraud or online crime contact Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and internet crime reporting centre. The Action Fraud website has lots of information about different types of frauds and scams and how to protect yourself and get safe online.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

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