Bankcard scammer jailed for defrauding pensioners of thousands of pounds

Hamit Hamit. Pic: Sussex Police

A man who was found guilty for deceiving elderly people out of thousands of pounds has been sentenced to 20 months in prison at Basildon Crown Court.

Hamit Hamit, 34, from Morland Road, Croydon, was convicted for 14 counts of fraud by false representation and jailed last Friday (June 30) after posing as a courier and collecting bankcards from eight pensioners in Southend, Westcliff and Leigh-on-Sea in April and May of 2016.

Hamit was arrested on May 4, 2016, and pleaded guilty to all charges when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court on May 18 this year.

He is currently serving a five-year and four-month prison sentence for 26 similar offences in Croydon, which according to Judge John Lodge is to run concurrently with the new sentence.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Paul Ross described the offensive as a “vile and disgusting crime perpetrated against vulnerable members of our community”.

Ross said: “He targeted his victims because of their age and showed little regard for the impact his actions would have on them”.

The victims, aged between 77 and 95, had been contacted by unknown accomplices of Hamit, posing as bank workers, asking for a return of their bankcards in view of their reissue. They were also asked for personal details and PIN numbers.

Hamit then approached the victims, collected their bankcards and proceeded to withdraw great sums of money.

Ross said he is pleased Hamit had been brought to justice. “I hope he will use his time in prison to reflect on his actions.”

Ross also warned: “Banks will never contact you and ask for personal and sensitive information. If you are called by someone purporting to be from your bank, do not give them any personal details over the phone, and report it to us using the non-emergency 101 number.”

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