A TEENAGE fraudster has been told to write an apology to his 80-year-old victim after trying to fleece her out of thousands of pounds.

Harun Mohamed travelled from London to Hove in the expectation of picking up £2,000 from the pensioner in May last year.

The 19-year-old Domino’s Pizza delivery driver claimed he did not know what the package would be, but was paid £100 by a pal called “Kamal” to collect it.

It followed a scam phone call to the elderly woman where a gang pretended to be from the Metropolitan Police.

They told her that her bank account had been hacked, but it was a scam.

At first she believed it, and handed over £2,000 to the first courier, but grew suspicious and called the police.

The next day officers were waiting when Mohamed got out of a taxi and approached her door to pick up a second bundle of cash.

When he appeared at Hove Crown Court for sentencing this week, he was told to complete 250 hours of unpaid work, and Judge David Rennie also ordered him to pen an apology.

Mohamed admitted he needed to make better choices about who his friends are, and said it was the “stupidest” thing he had ever done.

Ross Talbott, prosecuting, said the gang contacted the victim on Wednesday, May 17, purporting to be fraud detection officers from “Scotland Yard Police Station”.

Mr Talbott said: “They told her £795 had been taken from her account, and had numerous people who she spoke to on the telephone, each confirming she had been the victim of fraud.

“She was asked to attend her bank and withdraw her savings in cash, and to leave the phone off the hook while she went.

“It maintained the contact between them, and made sure she couldn’t contact anyone else.”

Mohamed, of Skinner Street in Islington, told arresting officers he was confused because he thought he was picking up a package for Kamal’s family, but the victim was white.

Kamal had apparently asked him to “do a favour” to pick up the cash, claiming to be busy with work.

Arresting officers then confronted Mohamed with the fraud, and he admitted he had read about the scams in the newspapers.

Brian Shaw, defending, said Mohamed had acted out of “simple greed”, thinking he could make a quick £100.

Judge Rennie said: “There are plenty of young people who are bored, greedy, and want designer clothes. They get a part-time job. This man took the dishonest route.

“Why has he made a rash decision when most young people make good and patient choices?”

The judge asked Mohamed about his actions, he replied: “I need to know who my friends are, I thought he was my friend and trusted him. I’m disappointed in myself and feel sorry for what I have done.

“If this was my mum I would be upset. I really regret what I have done.”

He was told to pay £100 a month towards court costs, to pay £1,000 in total.

The first courier was not arrested, and police say no other arrests were made in the case.