Three men and a woman have been charged after allegedly defrauding two elderly women on the Central Coast. , NSW Police say
Police will allege on Sunday 19 February, a 91-year-old woman attended a nursing home on The Entrance Road, Erina, and returned to her home late in the afternoon.
About 9am on Monday 20 February 2017, the woman was allegedly contacted by a man, who claimed he had found her purse. Police have been told the woman was asked to confirm personal details to authenticate her identity.
Officers attached to Brisbane Water Local Area Command commenced inquiries and allegedly established the woman had more than $29,000 taken from her account.
As part of their investigation, police were able to link a similar incident that occurred in 2016.
About 4pm on Thursday 17 November 2016, a 93-year-old woman allegedly received a phone call from a man call claiming to be the manager of a bank. The man allegedly claimed the woman’s wallet had been found, and requested the woman confirm a number of personal details which would authenticate her identity.
The woman contacted police after she was informed of unusual account activity. Following inquiries, the woman indicated more than $12,000 had been taken from her account, and police attached to Tuggerah Lakes Local Area Command commenced an investigation.
Following inquiries, a 38-year-old man, two 36-year-old men, and 30-year-old woman were arrested between Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 August 2017.
The 38-year-old man, from The Entrance, was charged with 24 counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception and dispose property theft – serious indictable offence.
He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Gosford Local Court on Tuesday 12 September 2017.
A 36-year-old man, from Mardi, was charged with 17 counts of obtain benefit by deception and driver not disclose identity of driver/passenger.
A 30-year-old woman, from The Entrance, was charged with two counts of dispose property theft – serious indictable offence, goods in personal custody suspected of beubng stole/unlawfully obtained and possess prohibited drug.
Both were granted conditional bail and are due to appear at Gosford Local Court on Tuesday 26 September 2017.
A second 36-year-old man, from Niagara Park, was charged with deal with proceeds of crime.
He is due to reappear at Gosford Local Court on Thursday 26 October 2017.
