A fraudster has been jailed after scamming elderly victims.

Mohammed Koita, 22, of Clandon Road in Ilford, was found guilty after two incidents of fraud in 2019.

On February 22, Koita targeted an 84-year-old woman from Dorset by calling her and posing to be a Natwest Bank representative.

He told her that there was a problem with her account and that someone would be sent to her address to give her a new bank card. She was told the courier would be called Simon and he would quote the security quote CMO12.

Koita arrived at the house and gifted the victim a gift card which she was told was for her years as a loyal customer.

During their conversation, the victim was tricked into handing over her bank card and pin number, which he then used to take out £100 from her account.

The gift card was used to trace a fingerprint match to Koita.

Another incident at December 18, 2019, a 70-year-old man was called by Koita pretending to be from Barclays Bank.

Similarly, Koita came to collect the card, but the victim became wary and Koita snatched the card from his hand and fled.

Around twenty minutes later £20 was debited from the victim’s bank account at a petrol station. Further payments to a clothing company for £1,965 and a £500 cash withdrawal were declined by the bank.

CCTV footage showed Koita at a petrol station, wearing a distinctive red puff jacket which was later found in his home during a search.

Koita appeared at Bromley Magistrates Court on Wednesday (September 23) where he pleaded guilty to two offences of fraud.

He was sentenced for two counts:

• Count one- Six months imprisonment and ordered to pay £122 victim surcharge

• Count two - Six months imprisonment

Detective Scott Pounder of the Met’s North East Economic Crime Unit said: “These were cowardly crimes committed against vulnerable elderly victims.

“Crimes of this type can go unreported due to victim’s feeling embarrassed that they had been duped by the fraudsters, but this should not be the case. Koita had fed layers of calls and information to the victims in these two incidents, each call or detail further reinforcing the impression that he was genuine

“Given the overwhelming evidence gathered against him, it was only right that Koita entered guilty pleas. This, at least, prevented the victims from going through a trial process.

“Although no physical injuries were inflicted, the effects of becoming a victim of crime, particularly within your own home, run far deeper than a loss of cash or property.

“I hope that the sentence handed down affords the victims some closure to what were clearly deeply upsetting incidents.”