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Pair arrested in Belfast over recent scams targeting vulnerable people during pandemic

The PSNI said it will relentlessly pursue those looking to defraud others during the Covid-19 crisis.

PSNI DETECTIVES HAVE made two arrests and searched two homes in south Belfast as part of an ongoing probe into recent scams targetting vulnerable people and older members of the community.

A woman (52) and a man (31) have been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences and remain in police custody at this time.

The PSNI’s Economic Crime Unit said there have been numerous attempts to defraud members of the community so far this year.

It can take the form of fraudsters phoning victims and portraying themselves either to be police officers or employees of utility companies.

Detective chief inspector Ian Wilson said these scammers will be relentlessly pursued by police.

“Police will never make contact and ask members of the public to provide PIN Codes, divulge passwords, or hand over bank cards in relation to their finances.

“Even during the current Covid-19 pandemic, it is clear that scammers will stop at nothing to target people which can often result in a life changing impact to their victims.

“With more people spending time at home, it is important to be vigilant of potential fraudulent activity aimed at gaining access to your bank details. 

Never ever give out any personal or financial information to an unverified source via email, text or over the phone. Only ever give that type of sensitive information to a verified source. If you receive any similar types of correspondence, please do not interact or reply to the scammers, but forward it through to Action Fraud or contact police.

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11 Comments
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    Mute Jim Buckley Barrett
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    May 3rd 2020, 3:44 PM

    How low can you be

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    Mute Boyd Gray
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:09 PM

    @Jim Buckley Barrett: Bring back public flogging.

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    Mute Richard Doherty
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    May 3rd 2020, 3:46 PM

    Lowest form of life ever targeting older people especially at this time

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    May 4th 2020, 10:02 AM

    @Richard Doherty: they do it all the time.
    A certain ethnically different group of Irish people specialise in scamming the elderly.

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    Mute Wayne Connor
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    May 3rd 2020, 3:50 PM

    Some humans ain’t human

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    Mute Justice Mickey
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:24 PM

    Unfortunately there will always be vultures waiting to capitalise on others, hopefully these will get a nice long sentence and all funds returned to their victims.

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    Mute Ixtrix Net
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    May 3rd 2020, 3:48 PM

    Complete Utter Nasty Toe-rag S

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    Mute Alison Williams
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:41 PM

    As if times are not hard enough. Vile

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    Mute Watchful Axe
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:36 PM

    Loss of liberty isn’t enough, this deserves public humiliation with a little sting. Like a public stoning but with something like potatoes ;-P

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    Mute School4work
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:20 PM

    Why call them scammers? That gives them a title.

    Call them criminal swindlers and emphasize that they have no morals whatsoever.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:04 PM

    That’s really low. I hope every single person conned by that pair gets their money back, and quickly.

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