Fraudsters swindle thousands from Honiton couple

An elderly couple from Honiton have fallen victim to a sophisticated fraud scheme, losing thousands of pounds to men posing as undercover detectives.

The scam began with a series of phone calls from a withheld number, during which the caller claimed to be a detective involved in a national operation to identify counterfeit money. Convincing the victims they were assisting in an important investigation, the caller instructed them to act as undercover civilians and gather funds to be 'checked.'

On the evening of Wednesday, 4 December, the couple handed over €7,000 to a man described as Afro-Caribbean, following the caller's detailed instructions. The next day, the fraud continued, with the wife visiting several banks and building societies to withdraw £11,000. This sum was collected later that evening by a second man, described as Middle Eastern.

Suspicion arose, prompting the couple to contact the police. Officers have since launched an investigation, conducting house-to-house enquiries and examining local CCTV footage to identify the suspects.

Police have urged anyone with information regarding this case to come forward via their website or by calling 101, quoting case number 50240308379.

Victims of fraud are also encouraged to report incidents to Action Fraud either online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Authorities remind the public to remain vigilant against scams. Taking a moment to verify the identity of callers and consulting trusted individuals before acting on unusual requests can help prevent similar crimes.

Further advice on fraud prevention is available on the Devon & Cornwall Police website and through the Take Five Tell Two campaign.

By raising awareness of these tactics, police hope to protect others from falling victim to such elaborate schemes.