Three charged after bank staff alert police to alleged bogus workman fraud

Police in Fife have charged two men and a woman following the attempted fraud of an 84-year-old woman in Dunfermline.

Staff from a branch of the Clydesdale Bank alerted officers on Tuesday after the woman attempted to withdraw a four-figure sum of cash to pay for work being carried out on her home.

Officers established that two bogus workmen had attended the woman’s house in the Headwell area that morning and claimed she needed extensive repairs to her roof and kitchen.

A woman who was with them then drove the 84-year-old to the bank to withdraw the cash.

The three, aged 16, 21 and 24, are expected to appear at Dunfermline Sheriff Court at a later date.

Inspector Ian Flynn said: “Thankfully, we were able to prevent this woman from losing a significant sum of money and becoming victim to such an upsetting crime.”