AN alleged fraudster involved in persuading a pensioner to hand over £40,000 to bogus police officers was "mortified" on learning about the scam, a court has heard.
Shea Reynolds' lawyer said he knew nothing about the contents of a bag collected last month from the woman in Belfast.
The 26-year-old was refused bail after a judge was told the victim had been targeted in a coordinated and sophisticated gang operation.
Mr Reynolds, from Market Street in Lurgan, Co Armagh, is among four men charged with fraud by false representation.
The victim (65) was allegedly contacted by phone on May 28 and told her husband had been mugged and taken to their local PSNI station.
Belfast Magistrates' Court heard she was told to give any cash in the house to police for safekeeping and to take £40,000 to a primary school on Knockbreda Road.
Mr Reynolds was allegedly at the meeting point where a bag containing the cash was lifted from her car.
Police, who were watching from a PSNI helicopter, intervened to detain the suspects.
Detectives link it to a criminal enterprise scamming 40 elderly or vulnerable people of £150,000 in cash and £20,000 of jewellery.
Mr Reynolds' solicitor stressed he is only charged in connection with one incident and "didn't know what was involved in any financial loss"
"Someone offered him a few pounds to go with them in a car to collect something... he's absolutely mortified this lady is a victim."
The lawyer said such scams operate at different levels with "the runners" knowing "very little about it".
He was remanded in custody for four weeks.
