Six men who were arrested on Wednesday have today (Friday, April 25) been charged and remanded in custody.

The men were arrested following a number of warrants being carried out across North London by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU)*. These warrants were designed to target those suspected of being involved in phone scams in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Surrey.

A large number of officers from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk took part in the warrants at seven addresses. They were supported by the Metropolitan Police Service.

The following men have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud:

• Ibrahem Charary, aged 18, from Stanhope Street in North London

• Gael Masidi, aged 19, from Royal College Street in North London

• Marlon Thompson, aged 18, from Margery Street, Islington

• Abdullah Hajji, aged 19, from Flaxmen Terrace, Camden

• Langangi Amani, aged 19, from Lloyd Baker Street in North London

• Rakeem Worthingon, aged 18, from Islington

All men appeared at Cambridge’s Remand Court today (Friday, April 25) and were remanded in custody. They are due to appear at Cambridge Crown Court next Friday (May 2).

Detective Inspector Danny Lawrence who led Wednesday’s operation said: “Our robust approach to those suspected of being involved in phone scams will continue but I would like to remind the public that, whilst arrests are continuing to be made, people need to be aware that phone scams are still operating across the region. Please follow the below advice:

“If you are suspicious about a telephone conversation you should end the call and contact police via the non-emergency number, 101. Remember to use a mobile phone or a friend’s phone or wait at least five minutes before calling to ensure you aren’t reconnected to the offender.

“Please also remember that your bank and the police would:

• NEVER ask for your bank account details or PIN number over the phone.

• NEVER ask you to withdraw money and send it to them.

• NEVER ask you to send them your bank cards or any other personal property.”

*ERSOU was established in 2010 to deliver an increased response to tackling the threat of organised crime across the six police forces in the Eastern Region of the United Kingdom and to provide specialist covert policing capability to law enforcement.

The unit is made up of resources from across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, to identify, disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups impacting on the Eastern Region. The unit creates additional specialist capability across the region through effective partnership and collaboration to make the region a place hostile to organised crime.