'No regard for their wellbeing': Walsall fraudster conned elderly victims out of £100,000 by pretending to be from their bank

A Walsall fraudster who preyed on vulnerable elderly people to steal more than £100,000 by pretending to be bank or law enforcement officials has been jailed.

Abdirahman Yalahow, also known as Abdi Rahman, phoned his victims claiming their bank accounts had been compromised, and that he needed their help as there had been fraudulent activity on their accounts.

The 29-year-old convinced his victims to leave their bank cards available for a courier to collect or they passed them over in person, having already provided their security details whilst on the phone calls. 

The cards were then used to buy expensive goods as well as withdraw money until the accounts had been drained. Over £100,000 was taken from eight victims, between August and December last year (2024).

Officers conducted warrants at two addresses where electronics including phones were recovered.  These were forensically examined by digital experts and evidence was secured linking Yalahow to the crimes.

In August when he appeared at Birmingham Crown Court he admitted the charge of conspiracy to defraud and last Monday (December 22) Yalahow, of Yew Tree Road, Walsall, was sentenced to six years and six months jail.

'No regard for their wellbeing'

Det Sgt Angela Warren-Smith, from West Midlands Police economic crime unit, said: "Yalahow spent hours on the phone to victims to convince them with elaborate stories, reassure them and build their trust, resulting in them handing over their personal information and bank cards.

"He had no regard for their wellbeing and saw them merely as pots of cash to be emptied.

"We know that courier fraud is becoming an increasingly common offence, with offenders impersonating figures of authority, including police officers and bank staff, to demand money or details about bank accounts.

"I'd ask that anyone who has an elderly or vulnerable relative or friend to have a chat with them about crimes like these and make sure they're alert when they answer their phone to someone they don't know."

To stay safe and protect yourself West Midlands Police has advised:

Your bank or the police will never call you to ask you to verify your personal details or PIN by phone, or offer to pick up your card by courier.

Hang up, wait a few minutes and call your bank on a number you know to be genuine, such as the one on the back of your card, or by calling 159.

The police or your bank will not contact you out of the blue to participate in an investigation, or send a courier to your home to collect bank cards, cash, or other valuable items. Any requests to do so are a scam.

Don’t trust Caller ID display on your phone – it’s not proof of ID.

Remember, staying cautious and sceptical can go a long way in protecting yourself from courier fraud. Take the time to verify information, seek advice from trusted sources, and never rush into making financial decisions under pressure.

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

If you ever feel at immediate risk or suspect that a fraudster may be heading to your home now, dial 999 and report it to the police right away.