Fraud alert

Fraud alert after cruel 'charity' scam in our area 

We're warning people to be wary of cold-callers, after a resident in Pateley Bridge fell victim to a cruel con earlier this month.

At about 1pm on Friday 1 May 2026, a young woman claiming to be deaf gained entry to the home of an older person. Once inside, she convinced the victim to make a large cash donation to a fake charity. She also stole the victim's wallet.

The suspect is described as a young woman, aged in her early 20s, with brown hair. She was holding a sign which read "I am deaf and dumb".

Anyone who can identify the suspect, or has information to support the investigation, is asked to contact the police. Call North Yorkshire Police on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website. Please quote reference 12260079389 when passing on information.

Furthermore, please speak to any older or vulnerable friends and family, and warn them of the very real dangers of doorstep scammers. Beyond the obvious financial loss, a crime like this can have a devastating emotional impact on victims.

The message is simple: if you're not sure, don't open the door. (Genuine callers will be happy to provide ID with a contact phone number, or wait until someone else - such as a neighbour - has attended to verify their identity).