A man from London has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for his involvement in a courier fraud scheme targeting an elderly woman in Cheshire, where she lost a substantial amount of cash and jewelry.
Sharmarke Ahmed, residing on Maysoule Road, London, was convicted at Chester Crown Court on October 23. The 34-year-old admitted to handling stolen goods related to the incident that took place in the Malpas area.
The fraud took place on March 5, 2025, when the elderly victim, in her 90s, received a call from a person claiming to be a detective from Chester, warning her of criminal activity in the area. The caller convinced her to hand over £11,000 in cash and jewelry worth £16,000 to a supposed ‘police officer’ for safekeeping.
During a prolonged phone conversation, a password was established to verify the legitimacy of the person collecting the items, who was later identified as Ahmed. Following the collection, the victim’s friend reported the incident to the police, leading to further reports of similar fraud attempts in the region.
Investigations revealed that the phone number used in the scam was a newly activated prepay number traced back to Brixton, London. Surveillance footage confirmed Ahmed’s presence at the victim’s location and his subsequent departure from Chester Bus Station back to London.
Ahmed was apprehended by MET Police on April 1 in London after a thorough investigation. Detective Constable Niall Dudley emphasized the prevalence of courier fraud in the area and praised the efforts of law enforcement in apprehending Ahmed. He urged potential victims to report such incidents promptly to prevent further exploitation.
The fight against courier fraud continues, and individuals who suspect they have fallen victim to such scams are encouraged to contact Cheshire Police, report to Action Fraud, or call emergency services if fraud is in progress. Swift reporting is crucial in identifying and apprehending perpetrators.