A 25-year-old man scammed more than £15,000 from elderly people in Brighton and Hove as part of a gang who impersonated police officers.
Mohammed Saddiqee, of Woodlands Avenue, Wokingham, was the gang’s courier, collecting the money from the vulnerable victims – all in their eighties.
Saddiqee was caught with thousands of pounds on him when he was stopped on the A23 in June 2022 and arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering.
At Guildford Crown Court last Friday (24 October), a judge imposed a 12-month community order and sentenced Saddiqee to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Sussex Police said today (Thursday 30 October): “A man who conspired with others to impersonate police officers to steal over £15,000 from elderly people in Brighton and Hove has been sentenced.
“In 2022, Mohammed Saddiqee, 25, of Woodlands Avenue, in Wokingham, was the courier of an organised criminal gang, pretending to be Metropolitan Police officers to target vulnerable victims.
“On Monday 20 June 2022, the victim communicator – the person who contacts the victims – contacted a Hove couple in their late eighties pretending to be investigating counterfeit money in the area.
“The victim communicator manipulated the victims into withdrawing over £6,200 in cash, claiming it was to support the investigation.
“Saddiqee collected the cash from the victims at their home address later that day and tried unsuccessfully to defraud them of another £7,000. They reported the fraud the same day.
“The next day, the victim communicator contacted a Brighton man in his late eighties peddling the same story – he was the fictional Detective Constable Robins, investigating bank fraud in the area.
“He convinced the man to withdraw and hand over £4,200.
“The victim communicator struck again on Tuesday 28 June 2022, claiming to be a police officer by the name of George Romeo, investigating bank fraud.
“He targeted a couple in their eighties and Saddiqee collected £6,800 from them to support the fictional investigation.
“Officers were already attempting to trace Saddiqee’s vehicle from the first two incidents when he was found travelling on the A23 on Tuesday 28 June.
“He was stopped and a search of the car found three envelopes containing £6,800.
“He was arrested and subsequently charged with conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.
“At Guildford Crown Court on Friday 24 October, Saddiqee was sentenced to a community order for 12 months, 150 hours unpaid work and a victim surcharge. Further reparations were sought under a deprivation order.”
Detective Sergeant Ali Sturrock, from the Surrey and Sussex Economic Crime Unit, said: “Mohammed Saddiqee was part of an organised criminal gang that specifically targeted vulnerable people, lying to gain their trust to steal their money.
“Thankfully, the victims had the foresight to promptly report their crimes, allowing officers to swiftly locate Saddiqee before he could cause further harm.
“I would like to commend all the officers involved in this investigation for their diligent work over several years, particularly Surrey and Sussex High Harm Economic Crime Detective Constable Louise Cilliers and Detective Constable Gresham Hughes, formerly of Economic Crime, alongside the initial response units and supporting officers.
“Thanks to their determination and resolve, a harmful perpetrator has been brought to justice.”
Sussex Police said: “We would like to offer some advice to help the public protect themselves from courier fraud.
“The police and UK banks will never ask you to provide passwords over the phone, withdraw or transfer money or to purchase high-value items to aid an investigation.
“Police or banking staff visiting your address will never take bank cards or cash from you. If someone visits your home purporting to be from the police, do not give them any items such as cash or information. Call 999 and report it to us.
“If you receive an unexpected delivery and you are contacted by a stranger to arrange collection, do not hand over the item and contact the police.
“Do not agree to go into the bank or use online banking to transfer or withdraw funds at the request of someone else. Notify the cashier if any requests have been made of you by a third party. Scammers will often tell a victim that the investigation is covert and not to disclose information.
“Make sure you verify who you are talking to and do not reveal any personal details. Clear the line, and phone us on 101 from a different phone or wait at least two minutes to contact us or a trusted person.
“If you have been a victim of fraud, contact your bank on their genuine number to secure your finances. You can report to police online or by calling 101 or contact Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040.”
That so called sentence is an insult to the victims.
Darn right it is, Rachel.
He was just the driver. The real scammers got away with it
It seems quite lenient and is unlikely to be much of a future deterrent to this criminal or others.
Pound to a pinch he won’t do the unpaid work either
Defrauding the elderly is despicable. It should be punished with a prison sentence.