Police have issued an e-fit of a man they would like to speak to after an elderly woman was defrauded out of thousands of pounds by someone purporting to be a police officer.

The 87-year-old from Paddington was conned out of around £8,000 after she was targeted at her home at the end of October.

Police have described the thief as “unscrupulous” and say they want to catch him before he strikes again.

The victim was phoned at her on October 25 by a man claiming to be a police officer from Paddington Green named Gavin.

He said he was investigating fake bank notes in circulation, and told the victim to hang up and call 101, to confirm what he was saying was true.

But before she could do this the victim received another call from someone claiming to be from 101 and confirming the earlier call was legitimate.

The suspect then called back, told the woman that he knew she had money in her account, and asked her to immediately go to a bank and withdraw nearly £4,000.

She did this and when returned home received another call from Gavin, who said someone would soon be around to collect the money.

A man then arrived at her premises and the victim handed over the envelope with the money.

Police have issued an e-fit of a man they would like to speak to after an elderly woman was conned out of thousands by someone claiming to be a police officer

The following afternoon, the suspect called again and made the same demands, asking that she withdraw just over £4,000.

The victim went to the bank and once again withdrew the money. As before, the suspect called and arranged for the money to be picked up. The suspect called a third time the next day, and this time asked for £7,000, saying he would send a taxi to collect her and take her to a different bank.

However this bank was closed and the victim returned to the bank she had visited the previous two days.

Staff there became suspicious and called the police.

The suspect is described as white, around 5ft 4ins, short curly hair, around 30-years-old, of athletic build and clean shaven with tanned skin. He was well-spoken and spoke softly with an English accent.

He was smartly dressed and wearing light brown clothes.

The fraudster claimed to be a police officer based at Paddington Green station

DC Karl Lewis of Westminster CID is leading the investigation.

He said: “An elderly woman believed she was assisting a police officer, and has had around £8,000 stolen from her by an unscrupulous thief.

“We would ask the public to contact us with any information they have about the man in the e-fit. Your call might stop some other vulnerable person becoming a victim.

“We would like to remind people that under no circumstances would officers ever call a member of the public and ask that cash be withdrawn from a bank account.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC.

To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or go to crimestoppers-uk.org

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