Joshawn Johnson-Grant, 23, has been sentenced to 40 months in prison after targeting an elderly woman in a courier fraud scheme that resulted in the theft of £5,500. The scam, which involved counterfeit banknotes, saw the victim from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, coerced into withdrawing money under false pretenses.
On 24 May 2024, the victim received a call from a man pretending to be from the Metropolitan Police. He claimed that the woman’s nephew had been arrested for using her bank card to withdraw £6,500 and that counterfeit money had been involved. The fraudster convinced the woman to contact her bank, but remained on the line, continuing to manipulate her by posing as a bank official.
The victim was instructed to withdraw £5,500 from her bank so that the bank could “verify” the notes. After returning home, she was told to read out the serial numbers of the money. A few hours later, she was informed that the money was counterfeit.
Joshawn Johnson-Grant, who had been in contact with the victim throughout the ordeal, arrived at her home around 5:30 PM. Despite initially refusing entry, the woman was pressured by the fake officer on the phone and allowed Johnson-Grant inside. He took the £5,500 and fled the scene.
Johnson-Grant was identified through fingerprints and arrested at Gatwick Airport. He admitted to burglary and theft. At Northampton Crown Court, he was jailed and ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.
Detective Sergeant Matthew Crick from Northamptonshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit said, “Courier frauds cause immense distress to victims, and this case serves as a reminder of how convincing scammers can be. I hope this sentence provides some comfort to the victim and serves as a deterrent to others.”
