06 August 2023 , 13:54
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A serial fraudster is on the loose - and wanted by three police forces across the UK - after a scam involving fruit and vegetables.
Mark Bullen, 52, lures in unsuspecting victims with adverts online for "organic" fruit and vegetable gift boxes from a "family farm". Some may be lucky enough to receive one or two boxes, but they may be disappointed to find the so-called organic produce is actually bought from the local supermarket - including Tesco.
Bullen, who has appeared on BBC's Crimewatch, charges up to £100 for the gift boxes and also uses different aliases such as Pullen, Wilson and Cullen, and sometimes uses female pseudonyms. Police in Kent, Sussex and Edinburgh are trying to trace the crook.
Kent Police's appeal from June, still live on its site, says Bullen is wanted after failing to appear before court (Kent Police)Karen Wilkes, from the Clermiston area of Edinburgh, said her stepdaughter was getting fruit delivered weekly till Christmas last year for £70. While the first box was "great", the second did not arrive despite it being paid for, and Karen, 50, and her family did not hear of Bullen again.
Lynsey Todd, 39 from Gilmerton, Edinburgh, was also duped by Bullen. During this time, he "came up with excuses" and insisted he was not a fraud.
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And Mail Online also reports Debbie Hardwick, from Hove, East Sussex, had a run-in with the scammer last year when she ordered three boxes, after being told the produce was from Bullen's "family farm".
She said: "I ended up losing about £300 and my neighbour ordered one before Christmas. She spent £500 and never got anything. He preyed on vulnerable and disabled people, nasty piece of work."
Another victim from Haywards Heath, West Sussex, contacted police but said nothing came of it and then Bullen moved out of the area to Scotland to carry on with the same scam.
The victim, who wants to remain anonymous, said: "He's got not conscience whatsoever, nasty man who threatens you if you annoy him. I used to ring daily but stopped after he got aggressive on the phone saying he would pay - he knew my address and I didn't want to chance any damage to my property if I persisted."
Bullen scammed people through a delivery service (Edinburgh Live WS)A man, who wishes to remain anonymous, was employed by Bullen as a delivery driver in Edinburgh, but claims he never received any salary for his hard work. Now he has dedicated himself to exposing the crimes of Bullen and has insider knowledge of the scam, Mail Online says. According to the driver, other people employed by Bullen also never received wages for their work.
A Police Scotland spokesperson told Mirror: "Officers are investigating reports of fraud in the Edinburgh and Midlothian areas. Enquiries are ongoing."
In an appeal published in June and still on its website and Twitter page today, Kent Police said Bullen is wanted after failing to appear before court in connection with several fraud offences at hotels, including in the Tunbridge Wells area of the county. Kent Police confirmed to Mirror this is still the case.