Operation Henhouse: 17 suspects quizzed as part of fraud operation

Warwickshire Police has taken part in Operation Henhouse, a national fraud intensification campaign that ran throughout February.

The month of action saw officers from the Fraud Team arrest 10 suspects and question a further seven under caution in relation to 11 different investigations. The combined financial losses of these investigations is more than £620k.

One of the investigations is into the alleged theft of more than £500k of goods from a delivery firm based in the north of the county. Officers are investigating reports that parcels had been redirected to incorrect addresses.

Investigating officers arrested five men on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud, and another was interviewed under caution. Officers also seized £37k in cash and two cars worth around £30k.

A 40-year-old woman from London was interviewed under caution after a man reported being defrauded out of £56k in a house buying scam. The victim was in the process of moving house when he received an email from fraudsters claiming to be from his solicitor asking him to transfer £56k for the house purchase, which he did.

Two women from Leamington were questioned following allegations they defrauded a Warwick business out of £11k through falsely claiming hours worked, and fraudulently using the company credit card.

Detective Sergeant Paul Hainsworth from the Fraud Team said: “Fraud covers a whole range of offences, from the opportunist to complex organised crimes.

“At the more complex end of the offences we are seeing criminals become more convincing and finding new ways to use technology to defraud people.

“Months of action such as this send out a message that people can’t hide behind a computer screen and that we can identify you and we will work to bring offenders to justice.

“Members of the public can help; we all get calls and emails we suspect are fraudulent and we just ignore them. By reporting these to Action Fraud, they are better placed to close these scams down, identifying those responsible and ultimately help ensure others don’t fall victim.”

For more details on how to report a fraud or attempted fraud go to www.actionfraud.police.uk/contact-us

Details of suspects and investigations

Five men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud, and another interviewed under caution in connection with the theft of more than £500k of goods from a delivery firm in the north of the county.

A 50-year-old man from Hertfordshire was arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering after a couple from Nuneaton reported being conned out of £70k in a bank fraud.

A 20-year-old woman from Nuneaton was arrested on suspicion of fraud as part of an investigation into an online fraud that saw someone advertising car parts for sale. The money for the goods was transferred but the goods were never delivered.

A 52-year-old man from Leicestershire was arrested on suspicion of theft from an employer and fraud after a fuel card was stolen from a business in Rugby and used to pay for more that £1,700 in petrol.

A 24-year-old man from Birmingham was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and money laundering after a woman in Cumbria was defrauded out of almost £9,000 in a banking scam.

A 22-year-old woman from Bedworth was interviewed under caution after it is alleged she used someone else’s credit card to make payments totalling £800.

A 26-year-old woman from Nuneaton was interviewed under caution in connection with a fraudulent attempt to obtain a driving licence.

A 40-year-old woman from London was interviewed under caution after a man was defrauded out of £56,000 in a house buying scam.

A 47-year-old man from Leamington was interviewed under caution in connection with the fraudulent use of a credit card to a value of more than £300.

A 41-year-old man from Leamington was interviewed under caution in connection with an incident where a man was defrauded out of almost £60,000 in a banking scam.

A 43-year-old woman from Leamington was arrested and a 26-year-old woman from Leamington interviewed under caution after a business in Leamington reported being defrauded out of more than £11,000 through false claiming of hours worked and fraudulent use of the company credit card.

Posted by SC