Forum Topic

Con artist in town

Could I draw people's attention to the story on the front page about my neighbours (who are in their 80s and one with Alzheimer's) being conned out of £6,000 by bogus roofers.Please keep an eye out on behalf of your elderly or vulnerable neighbours. I shall be photographing everyone I see coming to their door from now on, just in case!

Susan Kelly ● 5316d11 Comments

Yeh, what I wanted to say more clearly..was that these men turned up again some 18 months later, the front door was opened, the camera automatically switched on, the callers were recognised and told to buzz off, the resident hadn't been aware that he should immediately unplug the camera..so the image was lost next time the front door was opened.We have to be so alert and careful.

Jim Lawes ● 5313d

One day the Police were trailing a bunch of these con merchants on SE London and watched them knock on 30 doors to no avail.At the 31st address Police could see that a theft had likely taken place. They pounched, found some 1k's worth of jewellery /cash taken ..fingerprints linked up to West London incident too..and one chap was jailed. He lived at a Camp in Wraysbury..from where daily excursions into vunerable Londoners' homes were made.There's a suspicious looking Camp much closer..at the bottom of Trumpers Way in Hanwell. It's an old farm/farmhouse by the Canal..heavily fortified?. See it on Google Earth!

Jim Lawes ● 5314d

It is sad affair that the location of vunerable folk is passed around the "closed community" of some of these con artists. Further visits are bound to be in the pipeline sadly.Some the Police install a camera in the hallway..it being activated each time the front door is opened. It is most important that the Police give clear instructions. "pull the plug out after a dodgy person has called..thus saving the image/s.The roofing trick is one we all hear about. My friend's uncle had been robbed of over 10k cash! Camera installed with no instructions seemingly. 8 months latter knock on the door..pretty girl on doorstep.."I've got your shopping""No nothing about shopping etc etc""Can I come in and make phone call to the shop..etc? SIn she went to the phone room. 700 cash was on the sideboard and hadn't been put away.  You know the rest.Vunerable folk must be made aware. The Police know where these people live...and that they scour all over London every day.. somtimes trailing them and nabbing them.The roques pass names round..etc etc.

Jim Lawes ● 5314d

Caxton Card is the answer, so long as it's Euros or dallars that is; load it up before you go and use ATMs free of charge.

Susan Kelly ● 5315d

I can't really remember why she wanted it.  I think maybe it was to give some to me. Also her bank charges for withdrawing money abroad, as do they all now.

Bernadette Paul ● 5315d

Nobody said it was their life savings; that's a bit of artistic licence by the editor.

Susan Kelly ● 5315d

It's hard to think of many legitimate reasons for withdrawing such large sums in cash these days, although lots of people would get cross if asked why they were taking out their own money. Just to be nosey, why did your sister need so much cash to go on holiday? You can withdraw money at overseas ATMs with your debit card in most places and pay by credit card in shops and restaurants.

Susan Kelly ● 5315d

Interesting comment on the bank Jim, when my sister wanted to withdraw about £2000 (going on holiday) the cashier had, what I thought was a total cheek, to ask her what she wanted it for before she would give it to her!  My sister is not in her 80s and I said "I hope you told her it was none of her business".  However, in view of what appears to have happened to these poor people, I can see it in a different light.  Perhaps there should be some sort of a judgment call on behalf of bank staff when someone makes a large cash withdrawal and, I suppose, if the person withdrawing the money has the nous to say "mind your own business" then that's as much as they can do.

Bernadette Paul ● 5315d

Also Susan, it wouldn't be just one cashier at the Bank who would be involved in the handing over of £6000 to an elderly customer. It's unlikely that the bank clerk would have that sum "ready to go" from her own till, a time delayed opening of the safe under the Chief Cashier's desk might be necessary.Once the cash had been counted..it is likely to be second checked by a colleague and the cheque "initialled" accordingly.. etc etc.Perhaps this incident could trigger a nationwide campaign for Banks to be more savvy to this kind of crime.(I worked with Barclays in the 50s and 60s).God comfort you and your neighbours and family.

Jim Lawes ● 5315d

I agree, Jim. Such a withdrawal must have been completely out of character and the young policeman I spoke to seemed vexed that the bank asked no questions.When my late father-in-law, then in his late 90s, was being preyed on by scum like these, we finally managed to persuade his bank not to allow large cash withdrawals.

Susan Kelly ● 5315d

What a sickening happening.I've been reading the more detained report and responses on the Ealing Forum...and wondered whether bank staff were ever alert enough to ask a question or two when an "elderly customer" was cashing such a large amount...with perhaps a burly individual shadowing them. A stock question could always be "I trust you're not needing all this cash for an urgent roofing repair.. etc etc.

Jim Lawes ● 5315d