Conmen steal £1,200 from elderly Brighton woman

Conmen have stolen £1,200 from an 85-year-old Brighton woman.

A man called the elderly woman at about midday on Monday (22 September), Sussex Police said.

The caller said that he was from a company dealing with a damp problem next door to her Beaconsfield Road home and that she needed a dehumidifier.

He said that she needed to pay £600 for it and that it would be delivered later in the week. Someone would come round to collect the money, he said. And they did – at about 1pm.

The victim was phoned again the next day by a man telling her that he was a police officer.

He said that she needed to give £600 to a man who would be calling at her home. He told her that the police would be at the end of the street to arrest this man.

A man arrived and she handed over the money.

When the victim told a relative, the relative became suspicious and rang the police.

Detective sergeant Simon Dunn said: “This elderly woman is extremely vulnerable and confused by what has happened.

“She describes the man who arrived to take the dehumidifier money as white, around 6ft and 30 years old with dark hair and a beard. He was wearing jeans, a light green shirt and a casual jacket.

“The second man is described as white, slim and 5ft 6in with ginger hair and beard.

“Police officers would never ask anyone to hand over money.

“This type of fraud, where people pretend to be police officers, has become more common in the last year and we are asking people to remain vigilant against being convinced by these criminals.

“If you have an unexpected call from someone, always check where they are calling from and take a contact number and return their call once you’ve done checks.

“If you have any suspicious do not give them any information and report it to police.

“Please keep an eye on elderly relatives or neighbours and remind them to always check ID and details for anyone who calls on the phone or at the door.”

Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to phone Sussex Police on 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk.