Man, 94, conned out of £100,000 in Sussex mail scams

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-26610841

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A 94-year-old man has been conned out of more than £100,000 by mail scams, Sussex Police have said.

The force said he was one of 400 people in the county who had been conned out of money in the last six months.

The majority of the identified victims were between the ages of 80 and 90 and almost all of these had not recognised that they were victims of fraud.

Sussex Police believe the victims - whose names and addresses were found on a seized list - had lost more than £2m.

PC Bernadette Lawrie said the 94-year-old victim had highlighted the "despicable nature" of the crime.

She said: "He had sent more than £100,000 since 2007 in response to scam mail regarding lottery wins to criminal gangs abroad, making his money transfers through local village Post Offices.

"He was being bombarded daily with masses of scam mail and telephone calls to his home from criminals demanding money fraudulently."