Elderly Man Saved from £100,000 Transfer Scam at Middleton Bank

Police arrested a suspected fraudster on Thursday afternoon after bank staff raised the alarm about an elderly customer attempting to transfer nearly £100,000 to an alleged contractor. The intervention revealed a months-long scam that had already cost the victim over £250,000 for minor home renovations including basic painting work.

Officers responded to the Middleton bank after employees grew suspicious of the large transfer request. Their investigation uncovered that the elderly man had been making periodic payments to the same individual for supposed building work on his house. When detectives visited the property, they found evidence of only superficial improvements despite the massive sums paid. The suspect arrived at the scene during the police visit and was immediately taken into custody, where he remains for questioning.

Specialist detectives from Greater Manchester Police’s Economic Crime Unit discovered the victim’s money had been spent at restaurants and luxury retailers on high-value jewellery and designer clothes. Detective Superintendent Andy Buckthorpe praised the bank’s vigilance, stating: “Thanks to the diligence of the bank and their knowledge that something wasn’t right, we were able to immediately respond and make a positive arrest, but also safeguard the victim to ensure he is now protected.”

The arrest highlights GMP’s successful banking protocol, which provides enhanced training to financial institutions on identifying suspicious activity. The force’s dedicated Cyber and Economic Crime Awareness Service has reached thousands of community members through hundreds of events, contributing to reduced fraud losses across Greater Manchester.

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