Latest news with #EconomicCrimeUnit
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Telford man charged over £590,000 romance fraud allegations
A man has been charged over allegations of a £590,000 romance fraud involving six people over a 15-year Cole-Jones, of Donnington, Telford, Shropshire, is accused of 22 counts of fraud by false alleged victims are from Cheshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Manchester and the West 52-year-old, also known as Marc Cole and Marc Sands, is due to appear before Warrington Magistrates' Court on Monday 18 August, said Cheshire Police. Detectives at the force's economic crime unit said the charges related to claims of fraud between 2009 and 2024. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
09-08-2025
- BBC News
Police warning after Cheshire man loses £250k in sim-swap fraud
Police have warned about the rise of sim-swap phone fraud, after a local businessman allegedly had £250,000 stolen from his Police said a 45-year-old man had been arrested in New Devonshire Square, Salford, on 5 August, on suspicion of fraud by false fraud involves hijacking a person's mobile phone number and transferring it to a new sim without their National Fraud Database says there has been a huge rise in sim-swap fraud, with almost 3,000 cases documented in 2024, compared to 289 in 2023. Detectives from Cheshire Police's Economic Crime Unit made the Salford arrest at 06:30 BST on Tuesday, with the arrested man subsequently bailed until said the arrest followed an investigation into the "sim-jacking" of a 71-year-old Cheshire businessman which "resulted in the theft of approximately £250,000" from his bank Con Hannah Clement said: "This cyber-enabled fraud is becoming increasingly common; it involves hijacking a person's mobile phone number and transferring it to a new sim without their consent."Once transferred, fraudsters can then receive texts and calls to that number, including security checks like two-factor authentication, allowing them to take control of the victims bank accounts, [and] allowing them to defraud the victims." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Belfast Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Drug dealers sentenced after police pull over Range Rover and find £12k of cash in vacuum-sealed bag
The men appeared in Dungannon Crown Court on Wednesday, 9 July, after both were convicted of drug supply charges. Frederick (Derek) McCordick is facing two years imprisonment and Calvin Holden was sentenced to a three-year probation order. During the search of the vehicle – conducted under the Misuse of Drugs Act - on the afternoon of 7 January 2022, £12k of cash was found in a vacuum-sealed bag behind the driver's seat. The cash was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Frederick (Derek) McCordick, aged 42, was later charged with being concerned in the supply of a class A drug, namely cocaine, being concerned in the supply of a class B drug, four counts of possession of criminal property, one count of concealing criminal property and of converting criminal property. He has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment. As part of this proactive operation, a search was carried out of an address in the Derrin Road area of Enniskillen two weeks later on 21st January 2022. Cocaine and cannabis, with an estimated street value of around £3,000, were seized alongside drug-supply paraphernalia. Calvin Holden, aged 25, was arrested and later charged with being concerned in the supply of a class A controlled drug, namely cocaine, being concerned in the supply of a class B drug, namely cannabis, three counts of possession and one count of converting criminal property. This week, he was sentenced to a three-year probation order. Detective Inspector MacCionáoith said: 'This sentencing shows that police remain committed to disrupting the activities of those involved with criminality and drug-related activity. "Teams within our Economic Crime Unit, District Support Team and Neighbourhood Policing Team work collaboratively to stop drugs dealers who extensively ply their trade in County Fermanagh and across Northern Ireland. "Information from the public is crucial in helping us tackle the scourge of drugs and removing those who supply drugs from our streets." Information can be given directly to police by calling 101 or online at Alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Police put out urgent warning over scammers pretending to be... the POLICE: Brits conned out of £1,000s in just 24 hours - here's how to keep yourself safe
Police in Northamptonshire have issued an urgent warning after two residents were cruelly tricked out of thousands of pounds by scammers posing as officials from a bank and the Met Police. The alarming reports, both made on Monday, are believed to be part of a courier fraud operation - a type of heartless scam where fraudsters impersonate banks, police officers, or other official bodies to steal money and personal details from unsuspecting victims. In both cases, the victims were contacted by what police describes as 'convincing' callers who persuaded them to hand over confidential information and large sums of money before a so-called 'courier' was dispatched to collect the cash or items. The force's Economic Crime Unit has now issued a stark warning to the public to remain vigilant, particularly urging people to speak to elderly or vulnerable family members. They also implored people to remember that genuine callers would never ask for bank details or card details, or ask anyone to withdraw cash, transfer funds, purchase expensive items, or ask someone to play a part in an undercover investigation. Detective Sergeant Matt Crick said: 'In both these reports, the callers were taken in by what sounded like convincing scenarios – one involving the caller's bank, and the other from people pretending to be police officers – and have ended up losing thousands of pounds to criminals. 'Crimes like this cause deep distress to victims, who often feel embarrassed that they believed what they were being told, but offenders take care to make their requests sound both convincing and urgent. 'I want to stress that the police, nor any financial institution, would call you out of the blue and ask you for your bank cards, cash or any financial details. 'If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from the police, ask for their collar number then hang up, wait five minutes and then call 101 to verify or report what has happened. 'You will hear a pre-recorded operator message at the start of your call – if not, hang up again and use a different phone if possible. 'We know courier fraudsters often target people in the same area over a number of days, to make the collection of any money or bank cards easier for them, so we are urgently asking people to be alert to this sort of crime, including talking to elderly or potentially vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours to help people spot and avoid such scams.' It comes after a Chinese student in Northern Ireland was conned out of £200,000 in 2023 after two men posing as Beijing police officers threatened her with arrest if she did not pay up. After the transferal of funds, the woman never heard from the men again. Detective Superintendent Richard Thornton said at the time: 'This is a really despicable, calculated crime. 'These fraudsters contacted the student online, and even went as far as dressing in uniforms claiming to be officers from 'Beijing Police'. 'These fraudsters went to great lengths to make themselves appear genuine, but that's the last thing they were.' And in October, urgent warnings were being circulated after a man dressed up as a traffic warden tried to scam a woman out of £4,000. The victim - who had just parked her car near a hospital - was told she must hand over her bank card or she would be fined. Moments later, the fraudster opened the car door and jumped out before making a run for it with the motorist's card. Police said that soon after, the woman received a message from her bank saying that a £4,000 withdrawal had attempted to be made on her account. The suspicious bank had fortunately stopped the transaction.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man arrested after large amount of cash and luxury watch found in raid
A 52 year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of money laundering after police found £15,000 and Rolex watch during a raid yesterday, May 15. Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Money Laundering team, part of GMP's Economic Crime Unit, carried out a warrant at a business premises on Bury New Road, Cheetham Hill as part of an operation to tackle money laundering in Greater Manchester. During a search, £15,000 in cash and a Rolex watch were seized. One man, 52, was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and remains in custody ahead of being questioned. The arrest was a result of an intelligence-led investigation designed to disrupt and dismantle serious and organised criminal finances say police. (Image: GMP) Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to the Bury Times morning newsletter as well as our breaking news alerts. Detective Inspector Sarah Langley from GMP's Economic Crime Unit, said: 'The Money Laundering Team conducted the warrant today which was a culmination of complex proactive policing to tackle criminal finances. "The result today will significantly disrupt this kind of activity that lines the pockets of organised crime groups. "This is money and assets that we think have been obtained through criminal means and we are determined to ensure that anyone found to be responsible for this offence will be brought to justice and have anything of value in their name seized. 'We utilise all powers available to us to seize assets from those who we suspect are involved in organised crime. We hope the activity today sends a message to anyone engaged in this activity to expect a robust and relentless response from us. READ NEXT: Crews back in town for second day of filming major TV drama READ NEXT: Office block vandalised with red paint in 'Anti-Semitic' attack 'Last year through activity that occurred across the force, a total of £17,715,283.24 was seized and recovered from criminals and through the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS), a proportion of the money that is seized from criminals as a result of policing activity is given back to the community. 'Already this tax year since 1 April 2025, the teams in the unit have already forfeited over £1 million of cash and the work continues to strip those who are blighting our communities of their assets that are used to further criminality.' (Image: GMP) Anyone with information about suspicious financial activity can report it to police online through the online crime reporting for or by calling 101. You can also report via the GMP Live Chat service on their website. Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
