Warning after man, 87, is conned

AN elderly man from Watlington was conned by fraudsters.

Police are warning others to beware after two men cold-called at the victim’s home in Brookside on November 26.

The conmen told the 87-year-old that they had carried out building work at the property previously and claimed there was a hole in the roof that needed repairing.  

They said they needed a large amount of cash and it would have to be paid up front in order to hire a machine but the cash would be returned when the work had been done.  

The victim drove one of the men to the Nationwide building society office in Wallingford while the other man waited at his home.



He paid the men the money by bank transfer and in cash and the pair left, never to be seen again.

Police hunting the men said one was white, in his thirties, about 5ft 10in, of medium build with short brown hair. He was wearing a dark jumper and blue or black trousers. He told the victim his name was Matthew.

The second man was white, in his thirties, about 6ft, of medium build with short dark hair. He wore a dark jumper and blue or black trousers.  

Officers would like to speak to anyone who saw “Matthew” and his victim at the Nationwide at about 3pm that day. Call the police non-emergency number, 101.