Essex: Bogus Police Frauds

Police have released photos of two men suspected in a fraud involving bogus officers around west Essex.

Detectives says the pair, believed to be from east London, were caught on camera during an incident in Buckhurst Hill.

The pictures were taken by a fraud victim who was tricked into giving two men £5,000 cash for "DNA testing" after bogus telephone callers claiming to be from police and his bank said that his bank cards had been fraudulently used.

Investigating officer, Dc Patrick Snape, said: "The victim first had a call from a person claiming to be from his bank. The caller said his bank account had been infiltrated, money had been taken and he asked the victim to confirm his card details.

"Shortly afterwards a man claiming to be 'Pc John Bailey from the Serious Crime Department in London' called the victim and said there had been two arrests in connection with the matter. He asked the victim to go to a bank and withdraw £5,000 cash so that the notes could be tested for DNA.

"The victim was told that if he helped in the enquiry he would get £5,500 cash back. The victim withdrew the money and later received a call from the bogus police officer who said couriers would call at his home to collect the money.

"It was a very sophisticated scam and the victim fell for the trick. But he did take the precaution of photographing two couriers.

"We want to hear from anyone who can identify the two men or from anyone who has any information at all about the people behind this fraud."

Anyone with information about the two men should contact DC Snape at Brentwood police station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The incident in which the victim was tricked out of £5,000 happened on February 27, 2013 but at least 30 similar thefts or attempted frauds have been reported in Essex since the first of the scams came to light in January.

More than 2,000 similar offences have been reported in the Metropolitan Police area in the past two years.