Three men from Havering, east London, have been sentenced for their roles in a £130,000 courier fraud scam targeting elderly victims, some as old as 94, a court heard on Monday. The group is reported to have victimized at least 85 people aged between 70 and 94 by impersonating bank staff, then visiting their homes to steal bank cards and withdraw funds.
David Peter Reilly, 52, Joseph Ituah, 27, and Uchechukwu Ihekwoaba, 25, were identified as key participants in the larger criminal operation, which was prosecuted at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The scam involved the offenders contacting victims by phone, falsely representing themselves as bank employees, and convincing them that new bank cards were required. Shortly afterward, the men would visit the victims’ residences and perform a card swap, taking the genuine card in exchange for one stolen from another elderly person.
Once in possession of the legitimate cards, the perpetrators coerced victims into revealing their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), claiming the information was needed to validate the new cards. Using this data, the men withdrew thousands of pounds from the victims’ accounts via ATMs.
Reilly received a prison sentence of two years and four months, Ihekwoaba was sentenced to two years and nine months, and Ituah was handed three years and three months behind bars. Judge Leslie Cuthbert remarked on the lasting impact of the crime, highlighting the trauma suffered by the victims and the sense of insecurity many now experience in their own homes. The judge urged the offenders to consider how their actions would have affected their own elderly family members.
Prosecutor Ani Yehighian outlined the involvement of the three men, noting that while others in the conspiracy remain unidentified, these individuals occupied vital roles in its execution. Ituah and Ihekwoaba were responsible for driving others to the victims’ homes, with Reilly acting as a passenger. All three engaged directly with victims under false identities and used the stolen cards to access funds.
Authorities established that a total of £132,149 had been taken, though around 90 percent of these funds have since been reimbursed to the victims by their banks. The court heard victim statements describing feelings of anxiety, trauma, and vulnerability, with some expressing fear of being targeted again and uncertainty about whom to trust.
Background details revealed that Ituah had prior convictions related to drug trafficking and money laundering. Ihekwoaba faced difficulties securing employment after graduating university, leading to his involvement in criminal activities, while Reilly’s descent into crime followed struggles with drug addiction.
Police reiterated the public should remain vigilant, reminding customers that banks never ask for cash or personal information, including bank cards, over the phone.