A FRAUD gang conned elderly people, including a 98-year-old, out of thousands of pounds from their pensions and savings.

The ‘sophisticated’ team would telephone their victims telling them there was a problem with their bank account.

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The victims would then hand over their card and PIN numbers to a courier, a court heard.

If they tried to check with their bank, the telephone calls were intercepted by the fraudsters who used account details to persuade the victim they were genuine.

In total 11 pensioners, all from East Lancashire and aged from 78 to 98, were targeted.

A judge said they would no longer be able to ‘live easy’ and had been left ‘severely distressed’ by what had happened.

One of the conspirators Rashid Ali, has been sentenced to 19 months behind bars for his part in the fraud.

The 22-year-old, of Derwent Close, Haslingden, admitted conspiring with another man, Farhad Qazi, from Brierfield, and others to trick the elderly victims.

The court heard more than £12,000 was either stolen or attempts were made to gain the money.

Judge Simon Newell heard the fraudsters, who mostly had Scottish accents, used mobiles with withheld numbers to contact their victims.

The pensioners were told their bank card had been ‘compromised’ and that a courier would go to their home to collect it.

The elderly people were asked to put their card in an envelope and the PIN numbers were demanded.

Some were given a code word that the courier would use to convince them that it was safe to hand the items over.

Ali acted as one of the couriers.

Amanda Johnson, prosecuting, said: “Some of the victims receiving the calls were suspicious and refused to hand over their cards.

“But where the caller was met with reluctance or refusal, they were persistent and had real-time access to the victims’ banking information, including standing orders.

“Victims were told that if they had any concerns, they could call the number listed on the back of the bank card.

“These calls were intercepted by the conspirators in Scotland who posed as legitimate bank employees.

“The crown says all of the victims were targeted because of their age.”

Once the cards were in the conspirators’ hands, they used them to obtain cash, top up mobile phones, buy alcohol and purchase euros at travel agents.

One victim had £6,000 taken and another £3,000 which was used to buy currency.

There was also a number of attempts to steal money from others, but they became suspicious and refused to hand over their details.

Miss Johnson said: “There was intended loss for a great number of victims and there is a high impact upon them.”

Kay Driver, for Ali, said the conspiracy was ‘three-tiered’, with her client only used to spend the money.

She said: “Mr Ali became involved in these offences because he found himself in debt.

“Mr Qazi instructed him to spend on the cards and the money he spent went straight to his co-defendant. That would then be written off his debt.”

Ali also admitted a bail offence and a breach of an order.

Judge Newell said: “There were a number of people who gave details over the phone and the amount was in the region of £12,500 taken or attempted to be taken.

“All of those victims were severely distressed. They would have been severely affected by these real and attempted frauds.

“They will have no faith in the banking system and they will not live easy when there are knocks at the door or phone calls in future.”

Speaking after the hearing, Det Con Helen Mercer, from the public protection unit, said some of the victims had been embarrassed that they had been caught out.

She said: “This was a despicable crime. These people had their pensions and savings stolen.

“The offenders could not have cared less about them. It is absolutely appalling.”

Qazi, who also admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, will be sentenced later next month.