Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been sentenced for fraud by false representation in High Wycombe and Oxford.

Hamza Mohammed, aged 30, of Aysgarth Road, Leicester, was sentenced to three years and three months imprisonment at Warwick Crown Court on 25 September.

Mohammed pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiring to commit fraud by false representation.

In February 2025, two victims, both women in their eighties, were called by Mohammed on their landline. He pretended to be a member of staff from their bank saying that their bank account had been compromised, and their bank and credit cards needed to be collected for security purposes. Security details such as PINs for these cards were obtained as the victims felt this was a genuine call and they were at risk of financial losses.

A ‘courier’ attended to collect the cards. Once the cards were collected, a spending spree took place where high value goods were purchased, and money was withdrawn from ATMs.

Mohammed travelled from Leicester to High Wycombe and Oxford to collect the cards on both occasions, in the same car, with these transactions taking place on his return journey to Leicester and only stopped when the cards were cancelled.

He was arrested on 17 July 2025 and charged on 26 June 2026.

The overall loss of money between the victims came at a total of £5222.00.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Stuart Baron of the Central Fraud Unit, said; “Impersonation fraud offences are calculated crimes which specifically target elderly and often vulnerable victims. Offenders use fear, deception and impersonation to persuade people that their money is at risk, when in reality they are the threat.

“In this case, two elderly women were manipulated into believing they were protecting their finances. Instead, they were tricked into handing over their bank cards and personal information, allowing offenders like Mohammed to steal from them.

“The impact of these offences extends far beyond the financial loss. Victims frequently lose confidence, feel violated in their own homes and can suffer lasting emotional distress.

“This sentence reflects the seriousness of these offences and demonstrates Thames Valley Police’s commitment to pursuing those who target vulnerable members of our communities.”

Thames Valley Police is urging members of the public to speak to older relatives, friends and neighbours about impersonation fraud.

Remember:

• Banks, the police and other legitimate organisations will never ask for bank cards to be collected by a courier.
• Banks will never ask for a PIN number or full security details over the telephone.
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and use a different telephone if possible, or wait several minutes before calling your bank using a trusted number.
• If in doubt, speak to a trusted family member or friend before taking any action.

Impersonation fraudsters frequently target older people through landline telephones. A simple conversation with an elderly relative could prevent them from becoming a victim.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted by impersonation fraud should report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at UK’s Home for Reporting Cyber Crime & Fraud – Report Fraud