Advertisement

Appeal to find "heartless" criminals who defrauded dying woman

The family of a British woman who died just weeks after being defrauded out of thousands of pound...
Newstalk
Newstalk

14.56 29 Oct 2017


Share this article


Appeal to find "heartl...

Appeal to find "heartless" criminals who defrauded dying woman

Newstalk
Newstalk

14.56 29 Oct 2017


Share this article


The family of a British woman who died just weeks after being defrauded out of thousands of pounds has appealed for help to find those responsible.

70-year-old Linda Gibbs from Warwickshire fell victim to the fraud back in July, just hours after being told she had cancer.

She received a phonecall from someone claiming to be from her telephone provider saying a direct debit payment had failed.

Advertisement

They then asked for her bank details - including a PIN number - and said that someone would pick the bank card up and arrange for the direct debit to be paid.

A woman came to Mrs Gibbs' door to collect the card, which was to buy jewellery worth thousands of pounds.

Warwickshire Police say Mrs Gibbs passed away on August 31st.

They have now released photos of a woman they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

The woman is seen in CCTV footage from a jewellery shop | Image: Warwickshire Police

They believe the woman may be wearing a wig.

The woman is seen in CCTV footage from a jewellery shop | Image: Warwickshire Police

Police investigator Kevin Knight said: "These types of heartless criminals regularly prey on the most vulnerable members of the community and in this case they have targeted someone who had just received the most awful news.

"You can only imagine the impact this had on the final weeks of Mrs Gibbs' life and the anger it continues to cause her family.

"We believe the woman in these photos has information that will be vital to our enquiries.

"I firmly believe that someone will recognise the woman or have other information that could help with our enquiries and I'd appeal for them to come forward. Please bear in mind that she might be wearing a wig."

Mrs Gibbs' daughter, Anita Foxley, said: "My mum was very vulnerable after being told she had terminal cancer and to be targeted by these people is unforgivable.

"The extra stress this put on her life in her last days was unbearable.

"I would really like to see justice served on the woman who came to my mum's door that day.

"She not only robbed my mother of her well earned money but gave her a very unpleasant experience of worrying in her last few days of life."


Share this article


Read more about

News

Most Popular