Arrests after elderly women allegedly scammed out of €15k

Gardaí have arrested and charged two men in their 20s in relation to separate incidents of alleged fraud on two elderly ladies in Cork city.

The men were brought to Mayfield Garda Station and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. They have since been charged and were due to appear before a sitting of Cork District Court this morning at 10.30am.

Gardaí in Watercourse Road received two reports of suspected fraud on 3 and 29 September.

The first incident reported involved two men who called to a house offering building services which were never carried out. In the second incident, one of the men pretended to be the relative of a neighbour. Both victims were elderly women, in their 70s and 80s, and were defrauded for a combined total of €15,000.

Speaking at Anglesea Street Garda Station, Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Tony Davis said: “Incidents like this are getting all too familiar. If you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours and see or hear about bogus traders operating in your area, let them and ourselves know so we can put out additional patrols.”

An investigation was carried out by detective gardaí from the crime hub in Cork city. A search operation took place at two houses in Killarney on Saturday morning, with the assistance of the Armed Support Unit and uniformed members from the Killarney District.

Sergeant Davis said: "If you suspect that anyone who calls to your door selling goods or services is not who they say they are, tell them you are not interested and call the gardaí immediately. Genuine tradespeople won’t be offended by any queries the gardaí may make. If you are answering the door to cold callers, apply the chain or door limiter before opening the door. I would also ask that if anyone feels like they, or someone they know, paid for building work or other services that was not carried out, to call any garda station and report the matter.”