West Yorkshire Police has said it is looking for two people in connection with an alleged scam uncovered by a financial adviser.
Neil Liversidge lured a suspected scammer to his offices back in 2015 and a then 48-year-old woman was arrested.
The woman has been on bail since, but West Yorkshire Police have now confirmed the bail has now been cancelled although officers are still investigating the case.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “Earlier this month, the now 49-year-old woman’s bail was cancelled. This investigation remains active and enquiries are ongoing and we are seeking two people in connection with this incident.”
Mr Liversidge, managing director of West Yorkshire-based West Riding Personal Financial Solutions, had his suspicions raised when he received an email from a client - a retired headteacher - requesting a transfer “to secure a vital business deal”.
After checking with the headteacher to verify the request was from her, Mr Liversidge said it transpired she had accidentally downloaded a virus onto her smartphone, which copied her contact list and cloned her email account.
Mr Liversidge then emailed the alleged scammer in a bid to lure them to his offices.
Eventually he managed to convince them they would need to come to his office in Castleford, where a woman appeared at the allotted time who claimed Mr Liversidge’s client was going into the art business and was in New York buying stock.
At this point two police officers who were waiting in the back of his office appeared and arrested the woman on suspicion of fraud by false representation.
damian.fantato@ft.com
