Scammers dupe man (80s) out of €1,500 by pretending to be gardaí

Gardaí are on the look out for two scammers who stole around €1,500 from an elderly Castlepollard man by pretending to be police officers.

The two males called to the man's house just before noon last Tuesday, November 9. They claimed that they were garda officers checking if people kept cash in their homes.

The homeowner, a man in his 80s, let the males into his house and they subsequently stole around €1,500 in cash.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, a garda spokesperson said an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

“If there is anyone purporting to be a member of An Garda Siochána and you are in any doubt just ask them for their identification or contact the station directly. It is an offence to impersonate a guard. All members of An Garda Siochana do and should carry their official issue identification. If you are in doubt, ask them for his or her ID, there is never any issue with that.”