Four suspects arrested after targeted fraud strikes

Four suspects arrested after targeted fraud strikes in London to protect North East communities.

Four suspected fraudsters, three men, 20, 21, 22, and one woman aged 59, were arrested as part of a continued robust approach to fraud and money laundering in the North East.

Early last Thursday morning (March 12), officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU), supported by City of London Police, the Metropolitan Police and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU), carried out strikes on seven addresses in the London area.

The police strike saw an early morning custody cell for the suspected fraudsters who are believed to be linked to a wide-scale fraud operation across the UK targeting elderly and vulnerable victims.

Searches of the properties resulted in the seizure of approximately £20K in cash, two Rolex watches, several crypto cold wallets, with approximately £50K in crypto, and over 50 digital devices.

NEROCU Detective Sergeant James Woodcock, part of NEROCU’s Proactive Economic Crime Team, said: “This has been a complex investigation with months of planning to ensure the strike day went smoothly.

“I want to thank everyone who worked on this operation to ensure a successful arrest phase and be warned, work just like today will continue under the banner of Operation Sentinel – our regional approach to disrupting and tackling all forms of Serious and Organised Crime here impacting the North East.

“We are robust in our approach and will continue to pursue and track down suspects with our dedicated and specialist teams.”

DS Woodcock added: “Some believe they can hide their suspected illicit funds through cryptocurrency or operate online to hide, but this shows our ability to pursue suspects regardless and seize crypto alongside cash – there is no where to hide.”

Those arrested have since been released under investigation.

Anyone who has any information about criminal activity, can report it to their local police or via the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.