Mohammed Koita, aged 22, has been jailed for defrauding vulnerable elderly people using sophisticated phone and doorstep scams. The Ilford resident appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court on 23 September, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation.
On 18 December 2019, Koita cold-called a 70-year-old man in Bromley, pretending to be from Barclays Bank. He falsely claimed there was an issue with the victim’s bank card and said a collection team would retrieve it the next day. When Koita arrived in person, the victim became suspicious and hesitated. Koita then snatched the debit card and fled in a black Volkswagen.
Shortly after, £20 was spent on petrol. Attempts to spend £1,965 at a clothing store and withdraw £500 in cash were declined. CCTV footage captured Koita wearing a distinctive red puff jacket, which police later found at his home.
In a separate incident on 22 February 2019, Koita targeted an 84-year-old woman in Dorset. Posing as NatWest staff members named ‘David 1’ and ‘William Wallace,’ he arranged a fake card delivery with a courier called “Simon.” Claiming a security code of CM012, Koita handed the victim a plain envelope containing a Google Play gift card instead of a bank card.
The victim was tricked into handing over her real bank card and PIN. Shortly after, £100 was stolen from her account via an ATM. Fingerprint evidence on the envelope linked Koita to the crime.
Detective Scott Pounder of the Metropolitan Police’s North East Economic Crime Unit condemned the offences, describing them as “cowardly crimes committed against vulnerable elderly victims.” He said, “Fraudsters like Koita layer their lies to seem genuine, making it hard for victims to realise until it’s too late. Many victims feel embarrassed and don’t report these crimes, but we urge everyone to come forward.”
Detective Pounder added, “Koita’s guilty pleas spared the victims from the trauma of a trial. While no physical harm was done, the emotional impact of being scammed at home runs deep. I hope the sentence brings some closure to these deeply upsetting incidents.”
Sentencing details are as follows: Count One resulted in six months imprisonment plus a £122 victim surcharge. Count Two also resulted in six months imprisonment. Both sentences will run concurrently.
Originally published by UKNIP.
