Mobile phone scam dismantled by police partnership
Local police working with the East Midlands Serious Operations Unit (EMSOU) has led to four arrests in the county relating to an investigation into an elaborate mobile scam, Lincolnshire Police has revealed.
In an earlier operation linked to Operation Machinize - the National Crime Agency co-ordinated multi-agency operation, enforced by local officers in Lincolnshire - Skegness Neighbourhood Policing Teams joined specialist partners in 12 simultaneous raids carried out in the Lumley Road area of Skegness, Eastgate area of Louth, and Stratford Road in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham as part of a pre-planned operation in the summer on August 19.
Police say these raids were linked to a network of mobile phone scams and money laundering, but for operational reasons they had been unable to share this result until now.
Lincolnshire Police say four men have since been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to transfer criminal property (money laundering). They remain on remand, with a trial date set for April 20, 2026.
In a statement, Lincolnshire Police said: “Investigations have exposed hundreds of thousands, potentially millions, of pounds-worth of cash regularly being moved out of the UK to Pakistan, both physically and via digital transfer Money Service Bureaus (MSBs).”
They said the scheme involved offering attractive upgrade packages leading to unsuspecting victims providing their details, including bank account information without getting a phone.
Further searches uncovered a significant amount of cash, approximately £40,000, which was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
EMSOU’s Senior Criminal Finance Manager Graham Prince said: “The rule of thumb is to be naturally wary of unsolicited contact from people trying to sell you wares, offer services or tempt you into upgrades.
“Criminals use various methods and means to con people - whether it is in person, via a doorstep call or a cold call over the phone, a letter in the mail, or over social media and email – so be vigilant to their attempts.
“Always verify the service or offer being made in other ways. If in doubt, never give your details out.”
Of the overall operation, Inspector Paul Sands who co-ordinated the Op Machinize enforcements said: “The concealment of these items shows their importance to organised crime. Revenue from these products fuels complex criminal networks involved in trafficking, narcotics, and financial fraud — issues that impact us all.
“Our visits to premises are more than enforcement; they’re intelligence-gathering opportunities that help us trace operations back to their source and remove unsafe goods from the market.”
- The proprietors of Louth Phone Repairs Ltd, 73 Eastgate, Louth, wish to clarify that their premises are not linked or implicated in any way to the police operation.