Hove bank staff help save Portslade pensioner from doorstep conmen

Quick-thinking staff in a Hove bank called the police after an 83-year-old woman from Portslade came in to ask for £2,500 cash from her account.

Sussex Police said: “It appeared she had been told on the telephone that she needed urgent guttering and fascia board repairs to her home and would need to pay cash.

“Officers attended her address and stopped a suspicious vehicle near by, arresting both its occupants on suspicion of attempted fraud.”

A 54-year-old man from Portslade and a 48-year-old man from Brighton were interviewed and released on bail until Sunday 31 August while inquiries continue.

Sergeant Mark Collins, of Brighton’s Neighbourhood Response Team, said: “We want to encourage everyone to continue to resist telephone calls like these, which look to exploit elderly and vulnerable people.”

“If you ever doubt the credentials or intentions of anybody calling on you, or you get a suspicious phone call asking for bank details or instructing you to withdraw money, we urge you to contact police immediately.

“No genuine organisation would ever act in this way.

“If somebody is at your door, or if you believe somebody is on their way to your address expecting to collect money or bank details from you, call police on 999 immediately.”