Woman arrested after officers search house

A woman has been arrested in connection with a fraud investigation after we searched a property in Leek.

Just before 8am yesterday (Wednesday 26 February), detectives and officers from our Moorlands local policing team (LPT) went to the address and carried out a search.

A 64-year-old woman, from the Leek area, was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and money laundering.

She has been released on conditional bail whilst our enquiries continue.

The action is part of an ongoing investigation into an online scam where members of the public have reported losing hundreds of pounds after being sold package holidays that don’t exist, or are not what they paid for.

Detective constable, David Stubbs, investigating, said: “We are currently investigating what has been termed a ‘travel agent fraud’ and we believe that the majority of offending has occurred in Stoke-on-Trent and the north of the county.

“I am appealing for anyone who believes they have been a victim to email me at [email protected]”

People can also contact us by calling 101, or via Live Chat on our website, quoting incident number 809 of 7 December last year.

To report anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.