Dealer loses �32,000 diamonds in Ocean’s Eleven-style swindle

An international diamond trader has been swindled out of �32,000 worth of jewels in an Ocean’s Eleven-style scam.

The Antwerp dealer handed over two pricey diamonds to a fake buyer after receiving a call from his bank confirming the payment had been received. But the call “from a trusted source at the bank” turned out to be bogus and the buyer – operating under the name of Michael Levy – had already fled St Pancras railway station.

Police tried to trace Mr Levy to an address in Hatton Garden, Camden but it emerged that this had also been faked.

British Transport Police (BTP) Detective Constable Eloise Lock called it a “sophisticated scam” and the BTP has launched an appeal today (November 17) to try and find a man connected with the incident on October 28.

The stones taken were an H coloured VVS2 purity 2.01 carat diamond and an H coloured VS1 purity 2.01 carat diamond.

Anyone with information or who recognises the pictured man is asked to call the BTP on 0800405040, quoting incident number B2/LNA of 17/11/2011. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.