NINE men accused of conning elderly Gloucestershire and Wiltshire residents out of large sums of cash will appear in court today.

They were arrested in a joint operation in London on Tuesday involving Zephyr – the South West’s regional organised crime unit – and the Met Police.

The arrests followed an investigation into a £2m courier fraud involving scams that have seen more than 300 people conned out of money.

The victims were mainly vulnerable or elderly, and include people from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

A police spokesman said: “The type of scams investigated included one where victims – who are normally elderly – are contacted by telephone by someone purporting to be a police officer. 

“They are then encouraged by the fraudster, who uses elaborate and convincing reasons to withdraw large sums of cash, which they are then asked to send to London by taxi or a courier, or by electronic  transfer of large amounts to a fraudulent  bank account .

“The culprit claims the money is potential evidence for an investigation and that it is needed so it can be forensically examined.

“Another scam involves someone claiming to be a London-based police officer, who informs the victim that two people have been arrested in the capital. 

“When arrested they had in their possession, bank cards which contained details of the victim. The victim is asked to call the bogus officer and is given a false collar number and telephone number which helps reassure the victim.

“Because the fraudster does not replace his phone, however, the unsuspecting victim dials but is still connected to the original caller but under the impression they have reached a genuine police officer.

“The fraudster then encourages the unsuspecting victim to provide private banking details and may also be asked to withdraw cash.”

The nine men due to appear at Westminster Crown Court are:

Abdirahman Achmed Hashi, aged 25, of Wiltshire Close, London, SW3 - charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and fraud by false representation.

Khalid Benelbaida, aged 42, of Hazelmere Walk, Northolt  - charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, fraud by false representation and money laundering.

Richard Rodgers, aged 29 of Dartmouth Close, London, W11 - charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and money laundering.

Abdul Qasim, aged 20, of Tyne Street, London, E1 - charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and money laundering.

Ernest Kwesi Arthur, aged 21, of Sherwood Park Road, Mitcham, Surrey - charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and money laundering.

Said Rage, aged 26, of Queens Road, London, E17 – charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and money laundering.

Anil Arora, aged 54, of Lyndhurst Road, Greenford – charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and employ an adult subject to control who had not been granted leave to enter/remain in the UK.

Jayeskumar Arvindbahai Patel, aged 40, of Sherrard Road, London, E7 - charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

Georgiana Finch, aged 19 of Duddington Close, London, SE9 - charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and money laundering.

A 34-year-old man, who was also arrested during the operation, has been released on police bail, pending further enquiries.

The joint Zephyr  and Metropolitan Police operation follows a three month complex and painstaking operation by detectives at Zephyr supported by colleagues in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, as well as Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and Dorset.