Fraudster from London jailed after targeting Snodland home in scam
16:09, 22 October 2020
updated: 17:30, 22 October 2020
A fraudster who used other people's bank cards and addresses to get his hands on high-end goods has been jailed.
Reuben Thomas has his schemes ended when he was nabbed by police as he targeted a house in Snodland last month.
Officers swooped and a search of the 29-year-old's black Mercedes uncovered around £4,000 in cash, mobile phones, other high-value items and more than 250 SIM cards.
They also discovered hundreds of bankcards in a variety of names.
Thomas, of Grierson Road, London, appeared before Maidstone Crown Court where he admitted conspiracy to commit fraud and possession of articles to commit fraud.
He was subsequently jailed for two years and six months.
The court heard how Thomas ordered high-end items, such as mobile phones, and had them delivered to addresses not linked to him. He then drove to the properties and got young women to collect the packages, claiming they had been delivered to the wrong address.
DS Marc Cananur, of the Kent Police volume fraud team, said: "Unfortunately scams like this are common however in this instance Thomas fell foul of a vigilant individual who quickly realised something was wrong and contacted us.
"If a high-value item turns up at your property, such as a mobile phone that you have not ordered, do not give it to anyone who turns up at your home unannounced.
"Instead take in the item, keep it safe and contact the company that the item has been sent from. Do not use any number given to you by a courier to do this.
"You should also contact your bank as your personal details may have been compromised and report the incident to Action Fraud."
