A gang from Camden has been jailed for a total of 17 years after they were caught posing as police officers and tricking victims out of tens of thousands of pounds.

Ham & High: (L) Muhammad Ahmed, 22, of Gospel Oak, was jailed for three years and seven months, and (R) Mohammed Miah, 21, of Kings Cross, was jailed for three years and seven months(L) Muhammad Ahmed, 22, of Gospel Oak, was jailed for three years and seven months, and (R) Mohammed Miah, 21, of Kings Cross, was jailed for three years and seven months (Image: Archant)

The five-man criminal group undertook some 1,200 cold calls to members of the public, tricking 11 people into handing over bank cards and PIN numbers and defrauding them of more than £40,000.

One of their victims, an elderly woman in Hertfordshire, lost more than £20,000 over the course of 30 days when members of the group kept up the pretence and phoned her every day asking for more money.

In all the offences they posed as police officers or bank staff and told their victims that their bank accounts had been infiltrated by thieves.

They usually claimed to be from the Metropolitan Police and used the names DC Lescott, DC, DS or DI Rogers or DI Maguire.

Ham & High: Motahir Rahman, 23, of Kentish Town, was jailed for three years and four monthsMotahir Rahman, 23, of Kentish Town, was jailed for three years and four months (Image: Archant)

The tricksters claimed that as part of their investigations they needed to do forensic tests on the victim’s bank cards and PIN numbers or large amounts of cash.

Two of the group acted as couriers and collected cards and PIN numbers, which were used immediately at cash machines near their victim’s homes.

Many of the frauds occurred outside London.

Mohammed Miah, 21, of Coopers Lane, Kings Cross; Muhammad Ahmed, 22, of Hemingway Close, Gospel Oak; Motahir Rahman, 23, of Kiln Place, Kentish Town; Dedar Ali, 20, of Cressfield Close, Gospel Oak; and Mohammed Hussain, 23, of Malden Crescent, Chalk Farm, all admitted conspiracy to defraud between March and July 2014.

The five men were sentenced at St Albans Crown Court yesterday.

Miah was jailed for three years and seven months. Hussain was jailed for three years and nine months. Rahman was jailed for three years and four months. Ali was jailed for three years and four months. Ahmed was jailed for three years and seven months.

Judge Stephen Warner told the five: “These were mean and cynical offences deliberately planned to take advantage of the vulnerable and done to obtain financial gain. Those who commit these offences can expect substantial terms of imprisonment.”

Detective Inspector Danny Lawrence, who leads the ERSOU Cyber Crime Unit, said: “These men preyed on the elderly and vulnerable and took advantage of people’s trusting nature. They left the victims and their families in a great deal of distress by committing these frauds and this has been reflected in today’s sentencing.

“I hope this sends out a clear message to anyone thinking about becoming involved in organised crime and, particularly in this case, phone scams. We will identify you and we will bring you to court.

“These arrests were made following effective partnership and collaboration through ERSOU where a number of police forces are working together. This should reinforce the message that the eastern region is a hostile place for organised crime and we will continue to identify, disrupt and dismantle any organised crime groups.”

Advice has been issued by the police should you receive an unexpected telephone call, saying:

If you receive a call you’re not expecting, you should be suspicious. The vital things to remember are that your bank and the police would:

• NEVER ask for your bank account details or PIN number over the phone, so do not disclose these to anyone, no matter who they claim to be.

• NEVER ask you to withdraw money and send it to them via a courier, taxi or by any other means.

• NEVER ask you to send your bank cards, or any other personal property, to them via courier, taxi or by any other means.

If you are not happy with a phone call and are suspicious of the conversation you have with the caller then please end the call and contact police via the non-emergency number, 101. Remember, when reporting a suspicious phone call to police, wait at least five minutes before attempting to make the call or use a mobile or neighbour’s phone to ensure you’re not reconnected to the offender.