Pensioners fall victim to cruel fraudster who posed as cop to steal card details

TWO pensioners have fallen victim to a cruel fraudster who is said to have impersonated a police officer in Colchester in order to "prey on their trust" and steal their card details.

On April 30, two elderly Colchester residents in their 80s were called by a conman who claimed to be from Essex Police.

The suspect is said to have pretended to have arrested several people in connection with cloned bank cards and that one of the reclaimed cards had the victims’ details on it.

Both of the pensioners were then asked to provide their bank details to a 'police courier' who would visit their home that evening and give a pin number to confirm their identity.

At about 7pm, the suspect, who has been described as a man in his late teens or early 20s, about 5ft 10in tall, black, of slim build with curly hair, arrived at an address in Stanway.

After collecting the pensioners' bank cards and leaving the scene, they were seen at Esso Garage, in London Road, Stanway, using a cash machine at 7.35pm.

Subsequently the man was later seen at Sainsbury’s Tollgate at about 7.45pm, where he used the cash machines and walked in the direction of the supermarket’s petrol station.

Area - the Tollgate Sainsbury's superstore (Image: Google)

At the time, he was wearing a dark blue coat with a hood up, black jogging bottoms, and a black face covering.

The force is now appealing for anyone with information, doorbell or dashcam footage to step forward to help with the investigation.

Police Constable Matthew Essam said: “Fraudsters like this are preying on the trust and confidence people have in organisations such as the police.

“Essex Police officers will never contact you to request your financial details or debit and credit cards.

“If you are ever in doubt about who is contacting you, hang up the phone and contact the organisation directly to make sure they are genuine.”

Plea - an Essex Police Officer next to a police car (Image: Essex Police)

Anyone who can help is advised to contact the police via 101, quoting the investigation number 42/68312/24.

To find out more about Essex Police’s online reporting services, head to essex.police.uk/digital101.

Alternatively, anonymous reports can be made by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers through its website or by dialling 0800 555 111.