Two sentenced over courier crime in Croydon

Police officer: David Holt

Police officer: David Holt

A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and two years in a young offender institution after being found guilty of committing a series of courier fraud scams in South London.

Jevon Grant, of Lower Addiscombe Road, was arrested last September during a series of raids in Croydon following investigations into fraud in the borough.

Grant worked alongside Shaun Moore, 22-year-old of no fixed address, who was also sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

The pair are believed to have stolen an estimated £20k, by convincing vulnerable adults, in one instance an 83-year-old cancer patient, to surrender their bank cards and PIN numbers.

The scam works by the suspect calling the victim and claiming to be from their bank. The suspect then  convinces them that their bank card has been compromised and a “courier” needs to be sent to collect it.

Detective Inspector Simon Harding, from Croydon CID, who led the investigation said: “We have seen a significant increase in this type of ‘courier fraud’ over the past couple of years. The simple rule of thumb is never give your bank card to anyone and under no circumstances should you tell your PIN number to anyone, no matter who they claim to represent – be it your bank, police or any other organisation or authority.”

Moore and Grant were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation at Croydon Crown Court.

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