A London man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for his involvement in a series of courier fraud offences that targeted elderly victims, leading to losses exceeding £250,000. Another man has received a suspended sentence in connection with the same offences.
Sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court
Zayd Saheb, 25, of Somerleyton Road, London, and Zakariye Mohamed, 24, of Elms Crescent, London, were sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, 28 March.
Saheb received a nine-year prison term after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, possessing articles for use in fraud, committing fraud by false representation, and possessing ketamine with intent to supply.
Mohamed was handed a 14-month suspended sentence, suspended for 18 months, after admitting to committing fraud by false representation.
Deceitful Tactics Targeting the Elderly
The case involved two major incidents targeting elderly victims:
Incident One: Diss, October 2023
An elderly couple in Diss fell victim to fraudsters who claimed to be police officers. The couple were tricked into withdrawing £8,000 from three bank accounts after being told that a family member had been arrested.
The fraudsters arranged for a supposed officer to visit the couple’s home to “inspect the cash” and record serial numbers. A man pretending to be a police officer attended, stole the cash from the dining table, and fled.
Incident Two: Southwold, November 2023
A second victim, a woman in her 80s from Southwold, was convinced over a two-week period to hand over her bank cards and PIN numbers. The fraudsters withdrew large sums from her account and coerced her into purchasing gold bars worth over £526,400, falsely claiming it would be kept in a secure location.
The woman’s daughter became suspicious after seeing significant bank transactions and alerted the police. When Saheb arrived to collect the next purchase of gold, police arrested him on the spot. Mohamed was later arrested after evidence from Saheb’s mobile phone linked him to the Diss fraud.
Police Warnings on Courier Fraud
DC Dan Steel from the Serious Crime Disruption Team condemned the acts, stating:
“Courier fraud is a cruel and despicable crime that predominantly targets elderly and vulnerable people. In these cases, the offenders callously exploited the victims for their own greed. We will continue to relentlessly pursue those who seek to scam unsuspecting people and exploit their trust.
The police are urging the public to be vigilant and reminding individuals that legitimate officers will never:
- Ask for bank details or PIN numbers
- Instruct you to withdraw money or purchase items
- Request you to hand over cash or valuables to a courier
- Ask for access to your computer or personal information
- Use coercive or threatening language
Advice to the Public
If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately, wait 10 minutes to ensure the line is disconnected, and report it to the police. Never disclose personal or financial information, and always verify the identity of the caller.
For help and to report fraud, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit their website.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which fraudsters will go to manipulate vulnerable individuals, and highlights the importance of staying alert and cautious.
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