Fraudsters Take Hundreds Of Pounds From Portslade Victims

Friday, 27 November 2020 08:21

By John Warburton @Warblefly

Don't be conned by fraudsters offering drain repairs! (stock image: © Robert Lawton / Creative Commons)

Fraudsters in two linked offences in Portslade have conned their victims out of money by pretending they were from a well-known drain maintenance company.

According to Sussex Police, a 62-year-old man in Foredown Road received a knock on the door from a stranger on Friday, 13 November.

The suspect said there was a drain blockage outside his property and a worker from Dyno-Rod would be round to fix it.

Another man, claiming to be from Dyno-Rod, attended a short while later and said he needed £15 to proceed with the works.

The victim was told he would need to go to Crawley to pay it, which he was not able to do.

A third man came to take his card so the payment could be processed and left the property.

The victim received a call a short while later asking for his PIN number.

The victim quickly realised he had been scammed but by the time he called his bank £250 had already been withdrawn from an ATM.

A similar incident reportedly happened nearby on the same day.

None of the fraudsters had anything to do with any professional emergency drainage and plumbing company.

PC Bernadette Lawrie, BEM, Financial Abuse Safeguarding Officer for Surrey and Sussex Police said:

"This impersonator scam is a disgraceful way of defrauding the victims of their cash.

"Please be vigilant about anyone who comes to the door asking for personal or financial information.

"Never give your bank details, transfer money to those you don't know or trust or give your PIN number or other sensitive information to strangers.

"If you are in doubt about a situation, close the door and call police. If something doesn't sound right, don't feel pressured to make a snap decision on matters relating to your finances.

"Trust your instincts.

"Alternatively, speak with a trusted friend or family member and get their advice on whether you should go through with any action that could impact you financially.”

Police asked that, if you have been a victim of this crime or have any information that could help with their enquiries, please report online or call 101.

For further advice on fraud prevention, and information on Operation Signature, the work done by Sussex Police to prevent fraud and support vulnerable victims, you can click here.