Two men are in court accused of trying to con a Rickmansworth man in his 80s out of £200,000.

Mustafa Ali, of Banner Street in London, and Troy Davies, of Sulgrave Road in London, appeared at St Albans Magistrates' Court today (June 21) charged with conspiring to commit fraud by false representation.

Hamsah Shidan, 23, of Cheesemans Terrace in London, was also set to appear over the same crime but he failed to attend the hearing, according to the court. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Hertfordshire Police said the trio were arrested after an investigation into “courier fraud”, in which the victim was contacted by fraudsters pretending to be police officers.

The suspects allegedly claimed they were investigating illegal activity on the elderly man’s bank account and asked him to transfer around £200,000 to an account named “Gold Investments” between November 1, 2020, and February 1, 2021. 

Ali, 26, and Davies, 22, were released on unconditional bail ahead of their plea hearing at St Albans Crown Court on July 23.

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