{"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

READ MORE CRIME STORIES<\/h2>\n

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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

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

Most read in The Sun<\/h2>\n

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Kate Garraway’s GMB replacement revealed as she waits by husband’s hospital bed<\/h3>\n

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<\/picture>FLIGHTMARE <\/span><\/p>\n

Airline to scrap all flights from popular UK airport next year<\/h3>\n

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<\/picture>health battle <\/span><\/p>\n

Hairy Bikers fans break down in tears as Dave Myers shares raw cancer update<\/h3>\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


\nSource: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A GANG of fraudsters dressed as Pudsey Bear to trick shoppers into handing over \u00a3500,000. 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