{"id":244222,"date":"2023-12-21T01:49:53","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T01:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/?p=244222"},"modified":"2023-12-21T01:49:53","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T01:49:53","slug":"gang-of-fraudsters-posed-as-pudsey-bear-to-scam-shoppers-out-of-500000-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/world-news\/gang-of-fraudsters-posed-as-pudsey-bear-to-scam-shoppers-out-of-500000-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Gang of fraudsters posed as Pudsey Bear to scam shoppers out of \u00a3500,000 | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
A GANG of fraudsters dressed as Pudsey Bear to trick shoppers into handing over \u00a3500,000.<\/p>\n
They also used marketing material from charities including Children in Need, The Children\u2019s Society, MIND and Great Ormond Street Hospital to pretend to be legitimate collectors.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Over a decade, they repeated the scam at supermarkets across the country with only a fraction of the cash given to the proper causes.<\/p>\n
Ringleader David Levi used his loot to fund luxury holidays and also had a Hummer motor imported from the US.<\/p>\n
Under investigation, he was asked about 196 cash deposits totalling \u00a347,835.55 made to his Santander account between 2011 and 2017.<\/p>\n
He claimed he was working as an escort, had inherited \u00a3100,000 cash from his dad and won at a casino.<\/p>\n
But Levi, 49, of Lytham St Annes, Lancs, admitted fraud and transferring criminal property charges at Preston crown court<\/span>.<\/p>\n He and six others will be sentenced today for their parts in the scam.<\/p>\n Prosecutors agreed that if Levi paid \u00a360,000 compensation, they would not seek a Proceeds of Crime hearing.<\/p>\n Richard Atkins KC, prosecuting, said: "The reality was that only a fraction of the monies handed over by members of the public ever reached the charities.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn some instances it is obvious that monies were only deposited with the charities following a police intervention or other enquiry – obviously as a smokescreen."<\/p>\n<\/picture>BBC STAR CHARGED <\/span><\/p>\n
Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson charged with assault & coercive behaviour<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>IN CHAINS\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n
New details of Brit millionaire's kidnap hell revealed – including weapons cache<\/h3>\n
Most read in The Sun<\/h2>\n
<\/picture>DEADLY PLOT <\/span><\/p>\n
Twisted teens who knifed trans girl Brianna Ghey to death are GUILTY of murder<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>STEPPING IN <\/span><\/p>\n
Kate Garraway’s GMB replacement revealed as she waits by husband’s hospital bed<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>FLIGHTMARE <\/span><\/p>\n
Airline to scrap all flights from popular UK airport next year<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>health battle <\/span><\/p>\n
Hairy Bikers fans break down in tears as Dave Myers shares raw cancer update<\/h3>\n