Data led approach helps Met target phone scammers who prey on the elderly

An undercover Met operation has led to the conviction of phone scammers who tricked pensioners into handing over their bank cards before draining their accounts. Using data and intelligence, officers from local and specialist units have been able to link offences and target those who prey on the elderly.

The three-month undercover Met operation led to a phone scamming ring being convicted of multiple offences. Officers’ covert work began after they received a report from an older man from Hampstead. They soon linked the crime to other reports across London and began work to track down those responsible. Eyewitness accounts, CCTV, phone monitoring and undercover surveillance were some of the tactics used to trace the ring.

“Community crime fighting is the bedrock of how the Met polices London. We are using data and intelligence to spot patterns of offending and making sure we go after those who hurt some of the most vulnerable in our society.

“Burglary is a particularly intrusive crime that can be hugely distressing for the victims. We know from speaking with victims that they often feel a sense of violation, and remain fearful that someone could come into their home.”

Commander Kevin Southworth, Met Police.

Arbaaz Khan was part of a group who tricked nine pensioners, with an average age of 87, from across London into handing over their bank cards. The victims were persuaded they urgently needed to hand over their cards, and Khan would send one of his runners to collect it. They would then drain victims’ bank accounts. In total they stole £11,940 over nine offences between 1 November 2021 and 16 February 2022.

Local officers worked with specialists from the task force group and the alleged offenders were arrested on suspicion of burglary.

The Met says it will continue to work on improving its service to Londoners, putting more resources into local, frontline policing, listening to the community, protecting the vulnerable, and tracking down offenders.