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Taxi driver returns £12,000 to pensioner who was duped into withdrawing life savings | Taxi driver returns £12,000 to pensioner who was duped into withdrawing life savings |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A pensioner has been reunited with his life savings after a taxi driver realised the man had been the victim of a con. | A pensioner has been reunited with his life savings after a taxi driver realised the man had been the victim of a con. |
Fraudsters called Barry Stone and pretended to be police investigating bank fraud, telling him to withdraw money from his bank account. | Fraudsters called Barry Stone and pretended to be police investigating bank fraud, telling him to withdraw money from his bank account. |
The 78-year-old from Marlow withdrew £12,000 and then sent the cash to London by taxi where, he was told, the notes were to be checked for fingerprints. | |
But taxi driver Izy Rashid realised the elderly man was being conned so returned the savings to Mr Stone’s address. | |
As reported by the Daily Mail, Mr Stone said: “I didn’t sleep afterwards and I couldn’t eat at all, it was such a lot of money. | |
The widowed father-of-one added: “I feel so relieved now, I can have something to eat, no problem. I’m very, very relieved.” | |
Speaking about the scammers Mr Stone said: “You just believe them sometimes, don’t you? You think you’re helping people out.” | |
After withdrawing the money, Mr Stone was told to put the money in a box and give it to a taxi driver. | |
He was told to say it was aftershave for his son but Mr Rashid saw through the scam and called the police. | He was told to say it was aftershave for his son but Mr Rashid saw through the scam and called the police. |
Mr Stone had his money returned to him and described the cabbie as a “wonderful man” and they were now “very, very good friends”. | |
Mr Stone was taken back to the Marlow branch of NatWest by two police officers to deposit the cash back into his account. | |
The retired cabinet maker has lived alone since the death of his wife Pat 12 years ago. | The retired cabinet maker has lived alone since the death of his wife Pat 12 years ago. |
He explained that he is going on holiday to Thailand soon and would have had to cancel had the money not been returned. | He explained that he is going on holiday to Thailand soon and would have had to cancel had the money not been returned. |
Thames Valley Police is investigating the courier scam and has asked anyone with information to call police on 101. | Thames Valley Police is investigating the courier scam and has asked anyone with information to call police on 101. |
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