A 20-year-old man, Tariq Russell, has been ordered by a court to repay £10,000 to an Aberdeenshire pensioner after his involvement in a £17,000 telephone scam. This case underscores the growing concern over fraud targeting vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly, and highlights the legal consequences for those who engage in such criminal activities.
Russell was a member of a criminal gang that deceived elderly victims by posing as bank representatives over the phone. The gang employed manipulative tactics to persuade victims to disclose their sensitive bank information, which was then used to steal their money. In this particular case, a 67-year-old victim suffered a devastating loss of over £13,000 as a result of the scam.
A police investigation revealed that Russell’s bank account had been used to transfer the stolen funds, with only £4,000 recovered by authorities. The court’s ruling emphasizes the serious consequences of participating in fraud schemes that target vulnerable individuals.